President Trump went right to work in Brussels, Germany at the NATO summit Wednesday morning.
During a breakfast meeting he slammed Germany while calling them out for taking from NATO with one hand, while giving to Russia with the other. (Video Below)
President Trump, speaking during a bilateral breakfast meeting with the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg, blasted Germany who is simultaneously paying billions of dollars to the Russian Federation for energy.
The President brought up the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Europe and how dependent it will make Germany and other European nations on imported Russian gas. He said Germany is “totally controlled by Russia.”
During the meeting, the President said: “It is very sad when Germany makes a massive oil and gas deal with Russia, where we’re supposed to be guarding against Russia, and Germany goes and pays out billions and billions of dollars a year to Russia. We’re protecting Germany, we’re protecting France, we’re protecting all of these countries.”
President Trump referred to Gerhard Schröder, the former German Chancellor who sits on the board of the Nord Stream 2 energy company saying, “The former Chancellor of Germany is the head of the pipeline company that’s supplying the gas.” (Video Below)
Trump continued, “Germany is totally controlled by Russia. They will be getting 60-70 per cent of their energy and a new pipeline. I think it’s not [appropriate] and it’s a very bad thing for NATO. I think we have to talk to Germany about that. And on top of that, Germany is just paying a bit over one per cent, whereas the United States is paying in actual numbers 4.2 per cent of actual GDP [towards defence].
“We’re paying a lot of money to protect, this has been going on for decades… it’s very unfair to our country, it’s very unfair to our taxpayers. These countries have to step it up, not over a ten year period, but immediately.”
(Video Below)
WATCH BELOW as President Trump doesn’t back down and calls out Germany:
“We have to do something, because we’re not going to put up with it. We can’t put up with it. It’s inappropriate!” Declared President Trump.
Bilateral Breakfast with NATO Secretary General in Brussels, Belgium… pic.twitter.com/l0EP3lzhCM
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 11, 2018
The President in addition tweeted, “What good is NATO if Germany is paying Russia billions of dollars for gas and energy? Why are there only 5 out of 29 countries that have met their commitment? The U.S. is paying for Europe’s protection, then loses billions on Trade. Must pay 2% of GDP IMMEDIATELY, not by 2025.”
What good is NATO if Germany is paying Russia billions of dollars for gas and energy? Why are there only 5 out of 29 countries that have met their commitment? The U.S. is paying for Europe’s protection, then loses billions on Trade. Must pay 2% of GDP IMMEDIATELY, not by 2025.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 11, 2018
(Continued Below)
From Breitbart:
Trump’s comments on GDP spending on defence are likely to reflect the broader tone of the summit, which has long been anticipated as an opportunity for the President to encourage his fellow leaders into meeting their NATO treaty obligations to mutual defence, by spending at least two per cent on the military each. Most member states do not presently hit that minimum level.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was not invited to the breakfast, later responded to Trump’s criticism, stating that Germany was independent of Russia, despite their predicted increase in reliance on Russian energy imports. She said: “I am very happy that today we are united in freedom, the Federal Republic of Germany. Because of that we can say that we can make our independent policies and make independent decisions. That is very good, especially for people in eastern Germany.”
Are you proud we have a President who doesn’t cower down and calls it like he see’s it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
