CNN reports:
President Donald Trump, speaking in front of the heads of state of fellow NATO allies at the alliance’s new headquarters, called out member countries Thursday for not meeting their financial commitments.
“Twenty-three of the 28 member nations are still not paying what they should be paying and what they are supposed to be paying for their defense,” Trump said, delivering these remarks as heads of state of the other NATO countries looked on. “This is not fair to the people and taxpayers of the United States,” Trump said.
“2% is the bare minimum for confronting today’s very real and very vicious threats,” Trump said. “If NATO countries made their full and complete contributions, then NATO would be even stronger than it is today, especially from the threat of terrorism.”
Nato members must “contribute their fair share” to fight terror, immigration & threats from Russia – President Trump https://t.co/Q8qmAhhkn7 pic.twitter.com/iPWMCEmQ79
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) May 25, 2017
Just look at the reaction of NATO members as Trump said directly to their faces that 23 out of 28 nations aren’t contributing enough. pic.twitter.com/wG3ppeRI97
— Steve Kopack (@SteveKopack) May 25, 2017
Trump just now: "I never asked what the NATO headquarters cost…not even once."
— Yashar (@yashar) May 25, 2017
Seems like Putin is still getting his quid pro quo honored with Trump's speech just now on NATO.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) May 25, 2017
Trump is still talking about NATO members not paying as if they are paying dues into a fund. Jeez.
— Yashar (@yashar) May 25, 2017
Theresa May's reaction, after this story (UK police stop sharing info with US after leaks https://t.co/dHnUCYMfcK) as Trump speaks at NATO. pic.twitter.com/fLDrvCjMsS
— Steve Kopack (@SteveKopack) May 25, 2017
That was quite a moment. Trump doesn't mention intelligence leaks, but lectures European leaders on contributions to NATO.
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) May 25, 2017
Every US President since Truman has pledged support for Article 5–that US will defend Europe. Not so Trump today at #NATO. Major mistake.
— Nicholas Burns (@RNicholasBurns) May 25, 2017
Trump just called the terrorists "losers" again.
To our NATO allies.
God, he's embarrassing.— Holly O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) May 25, 2017