President Obama Says Germany's Angela Merkel Is 'on Right Side of History'

— -- President Obama today defended German Chancellor Angela Merkel for how she has handled the Syrian refugee crisis, even as she faces political backlash for her policy.

Merkel announced last year that Germany would accept hundreds of thousands of refugees. But just last month, a political party whose platform opposes Merkel's open-door refugee policy made historic gains in state elections -- an outcome seen as a referendum on the chancellor's migrant position.

Obama praised Merkel, saying that he is "proud" of her and the German people.

"She is on the right side of history on this," he said in a press conference as Merkel stood beside him. "She is giving voice, I think, to the kinds of principles that bring people together rather than divide them. And I'm very proud of her for that and I'm proud of the German people for that."

During a press conference today, Merkel was asked how she feels about the prospects of potentially working with a presidential candidate who has called her refugee policy "insane," a reference to Donald Trump. The ever-disciplined Merkel refrained from wading into the 2016 campaign.

"As to your question, let me make two remarks. First, I concentrate on the task ahead for 2016, I’m quite busy with that thank you very much. And I’m looking with great interest at the American election campaign," she said.

Obama, who is visiting Germany on the second leg of his European trip, used the opening of the world’s leading industrial technology trade fair to push for the completion of major trade deal between the U.S. and the European Union by the end of the year.

"The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership would reinforce our long transatlantic relationship which has been the foundation of our prosperity and security these past seven decades," Obama said at the Hannover Messe trade show. "It will bind us even closer and help lift the fortunes of our people, renewing confidence that democracy delivers progress."

The president warned that upcoming political transitions could jeopardize the progress of the deal, known as TTIP, if an agreement is not reached before he leaves office.

"If we don’t complete negotiations this year, then upcoming political transitions in the United States and Europe would mean this agreement won’t be finished for quite some time," he said. "The time to complete TTIP is now and I’m here to say that the United States is prepared to make every effort to reach an ambitious, comprehensive, and high standard agreement this year."

Ahead of the president’s trip to Germany, thousands hit the streets of Hannover to protest the deal, which opponents argue could lower wages and threaten labor rights.

Talk of trade was front and center on the president's first of two days in Germany, but Monday, the focus will shift to security when he participates in a multilateral meeting with European leaders.

The president is scheduled to sit down with Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Renzi to encourage intelligence sharing between their countries in the wake of recent terror attacks in Brussels and France.

They are also expected to discuss the situation in Syria, aiding the new government in Libya, dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the refugee crisis.