President Trump tweeted Saturday morning that Germany "owes vast sums of money to NATO." His tweet came the day after his meeting Friday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during which Trump said he stressed the importance of NATO allies paying their "fair share" as "many nations owe vast sums of money." Trump also claimed Germany should pay the U.S. for "the powerful, and very expensive, defense it provides to Germany!"
His calls for payments from Germany followed his insistence that he had a "GREAT" first meeting with Merkel at the White House, dismissing reports otherwise as "FAKE NEWS." During a tense sit-down in the Oval Office, Trump apparently avoided making eye contact with Merkel and refused to shake her hand.
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