U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton both hold German Chancellor Angela Merkel as their favorite world leader.

"I think Merkel is a really great world leader," Trump said in an interview with New England's NECN on Thursday.

"I was always a Merkel person... But I think she made a very tragic mistake a year and a half ago," referring to Merkel's decision to take refugees from Syria.

Trump has long criticized the danger of taking in Mideast refugees, comparing the crisis to the Trojan Horse.

On Thursday, Clinton also joined the discussion about her favorite world leaders.

"One of my favorites is Angela Merkel because I think she's been an extraordinary, strong leader during difficult times in Europe, which has obvious implications for the rest of the world and, most particularly, our country," she said during a chat with reporters aboard her campaign plane in Chicago.

Clinton spoke highly of Merkel's leadership on the Euro crisis and her bravery in the face of the refugee crisis.

She said she had known Merkel since the 1990s, hoping to have the opportunity to work with her in the future.

Source : XINHUA