TRUMP BLASTS GERMANY ….. THEN HAS A KISS-AND-MAKEUP MEETING WITH MERKEL

In a testy exchange with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg,, Trump blasted Germany for its energy deal with Russia

During a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, President Trump had this testy exchange with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg:

Trump: “Now, if you look at it, Germany is a captive of Russia because they supply. They got rid of their coal plants. They got rid of their nuclear. They’re getting so much of the oil and gas from Russia. I think it’s something that NATO has to look at. I think it’s very inappropriate. You and I agree that it’s inappropriate. I don’t know what you can do about it now, but it certainly doesn’t seem to make sense that they paid billions of dollars to Russia and now we have to defend them against Russia.”

Stoltenberg: “You know, NATO is an alliance of 29 nations, and there are sometimes differences and different views, and also some disagreements. And the gas pipeline from Russia to Germany is one issue where allies disagree. But the strength of NATO is that despite these differences, we have always been able to unite around our core task, to protect and defend each other, because we understand that we are stronger together than apart.

“I think that two World Wars and the Cold War taught us that we are stronger together than apart.”

Trump: “But how can you be together when a country is getting its energy from the person you want protection against or from the group that you want protection?”

Stoltenberg: “Because we understand that when we stand together, also in dealing with Russia, we are stronger.”
__________

Market Watch reported that Trump later did meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Trump said they had a “great meeting” discussing military expenditure and trade. Merkel said the meeting was an opportunity to exchange views on migration and trade. “We are partners,” she said, “we are good partners, and wish to continue to cooperate in the future.”

Market Watch also reported that in a joint statement, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the Trump remarks an “embarrassment” and said it’s “another profoundly disturbing signal that the president is more loyal to President Putin than to our NATO allies.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Trump is a different drummer. He just doesn’t play the phony niceties diplomats use. If there is any embarrassment here, it’s Pelosi and Schumer.