Trump kicks off London summit with unexpected defense of NATO


President Trump met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in London on Tuesday, ahead of a celebration of the 29-member alliance's 70th anniversary. Asked about French President Emmanuel Macron's comment last month that NATO was "brain dead," Trump delivered an unexpectedly robust defense of the organization. Macron's comment to The Economist centered on Turkey's invasion of Syria and what he saw as Trump's waning commitment to NATO.
Trump called Macron's comments "very, very nasty" to the alliance's 28 other members and "a very dangerous statement for them to make." Macron "just can't go around making statements like that about NATO," he added. "It is very disrespectful."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier responded that Macron is "brain dead" and threatened to veto a NATO plan to defend Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia in the event of a Russian attack unless every NATO member recognized the Kurdish YPG militia as terrorists. The YPG leads the U.S.-allied Syrian Defense Forces that routed the Islamic State with U.S. support. Trump, however, focused his ire on Macron, noting France's high unemployment rate, criticizing its tariff on U.S. technology, and taunting the French president, "Nobody needs NATO more than France."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
CNN's New Day reminded viewers that Trump is usually very critical of NATO, calling it obsolete and complaining frequently that the U.S. is being taken advantage of by other members of the alliance.
"The world has changed a lot and NATO is changing right now," Trump said. "I've become a bigger fan of NATO because they have become more flexible." Trump also insisted he "did nothing wrong" with Ukraine, criticized Democrats for impeaching him, and said he "likes the idea of waiting until after the (2020) election" to reach a trade deal with China.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The genetic secrets of South Korea's female free-divers
Under The Radar Unique physiology of 'real-life mermaid' haenyeo women could help treat chronic diseases
-
Democrats: How to rebuild a damaged brand
Feature Trump's approval rating is sinking, but so is the Democratic brand
-
Unraveling autism
Feature RFK Jr. has vowed to find the root cause of the 'autism epidemic' in months. Scientists have doubts.
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages released
Speed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'
Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs say
Speed Read
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?
Speed Read
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign port
Speed Read
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'
Speed Read