President Trump lectures world leaders
about contributions in first speech at NATO headquarters
Trump (right) speaks to European Council President Donald Tusk at the EU headquarters, as part of the NATO meeting, in Brussels
President Trump used his first-ever speech at NATO headquarters in Brussels Thursday to lecture his fellow world leaders over how much they pay into the international body, drawing on the horrors of the Manchester attack to implore them to contribute more.
Standing before fellow presidents and prime ministers of NATO countries at the international group's new headquarters in Brussels, Trump at one point even suggested he was frustrated with the body's decision to construct a new building.
"I never once asked what the new NATO headquarters cost, I refused to do that," Trump said, having just a moment before reprimanded the crowd of European dignitaries for not paying more.
"Over the last eight years, the U.S. spent more on defense than all the other members of NATO combined," he said, repeating a campaign message.
Trump had been a merciless critic of NATO during the campaign, taking particular aim at the small number of countries that don't spend the agreed-upon 2% of their gross domestic product on defense — a message he revisited Thursday.
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President Trump used his first-ever speech at NATO headquarters in Brussels Thursday to lecture his fellow world leaders over how much they pay into the international body, drawing on the horrors of the Manchester attack to implore them to contribute more.
Standing before fellow presidents and prime ministers of NATO countries at the international group's new headquarters in Brussels, Trump at one point even suggested he was frustrated with the body's decision to construct a new building.
"I never once asked what the new NATO headquarters cost, I refused to do that," Trump said, having just a moment before reprimanded the crowd of European dignitaries for not paying more.
"Over the last eight years, the U.S. spent more on defense than all the other members of NATO combined," he said, repeating a campaign message.
The bad things Trump said about NATO before he suddenly liked it
Trump had been a merciless critic of NATO during the campaign, taking particular aim at the small number of countries that don't spend the agreed-upon 2% of their gross domestic product on defense — a message he revisited Thursday.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks beside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the start of the NATO summit in Brussels on May 25.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks beside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the start of the NATO summit in Brussels on May 25. (JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS)
The world would be "safer," he added, "if all the other members … had spent just the 2% of the GDP."
"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," he said, nodding to Monday's attack in Manchester.
Tweet
email
X
President Trump used his first-ever speech at NATO headquarters in Brussels Thursday to lecture his fellow world leaders over how much they pay into the international body, drawing on the horrors of the Manchester attack to implore them to contribute more.
Standing before fellow presidents and prime ministers of NATO countries at the international group's new headquarters in Brussels, Trump at one point even suggested he was frustrated with the body's decision to construct a new building.
"I never once asked what the new NATO headquarters cost, I refused to do that," Trump said, having just a moment before reprimanded the crowd of European dignitaries for not paying more.
"Over the last eight years, the U.S. spent more on defense than all the other members of NATO combined," he said, repeating a campaign message.
The bad things Trump said about NATO before he suddenly liked it
Trump had been a merciless critic of NATO during the campaign, taking particular aim at the small number of countries that don't spend the agreed-upon 2% of their gross domestic product on defense — a message he revisited Thursday.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks beside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the start of the NATO summit in Brussels on May 25.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks beside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the start of the NATO summit in Brussels on May 25. (JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS)
The world would be "safer," he added, "if all the other members … had spent just the 2% of the GDP."
"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," he said, nodding to Monday's attack in Manchester.
Why Tech Is the Key to Bridging Generational Gaps Paid Content by DeVry University
Why Tech Is the Key to Bridging Generational Gaps
As a candidate Trump also ripped the 28-member organization as "obsolete," but has since softened his stance.
His stop at the NATO headquarters in Brussels was just his latest on his first international trip as President. In recent days, he visited Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Palestinian territories and the Vatican.
But his moment at NATO appeared to be the first time he veered off script on the trip, which until Thursday had gone on without controversy.
Trump's apparent insults of NATO-member spending came just days after a suicide bomber attacked an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, killing 22 and injuring dozens of others.
Trump recognized the assault by calling for a moment of silence for the victims of the "barbaric and vicious attack up on our civilization," before, suddenly, insisting the need for NATO, especially when it comes to fighting terrorism, was "great."
about contributions in first speech at NATO headquarters
Trump (right) speaks to European Council President Donald Tusk at the EU headquarters, as part of the NATO meeting, in Brussels
President Trump used his first-ever speech at NATO headquarters in Brussels Thursday to lecture his fellow world leaders over how much they pay into the international body, drawing on the horrors of the Manchester attack to implore them to contribute more.
Standing before fellow presidents and prime ministers of NATO countries at the international group's new headquarters in Brussels, Trump at one point even suggested he was frustrated with the body's decision to construct a new building.
"I never once asked what the new NATO headquarters cost, I refused to do that," Trump said, having just a moment before reprimanded the crowd of European dignitaries for not paying more.
"Over the last eight years, the U.S. spent more on defense than all the other members of NATO combined," he said, repeating a campaign message.
Trump had been a merciless critic of NATO during the campaign, taking particular aim at the small number of countries that don't spend the agreed-upon 2% of their gross domestic product on defense — a message he revisited Thursday.
Tweet
X
President Trump used his first-ever speech at NATO headquarters in Brussels Thursday to lecture his fellow world leaders over how much they pay into the international body, drawing on the horrors of the Manchester attack to implore them to contribute more.
Standing before fellow presidents and prime ministers of NATO countries at the international group's new headquarters in Brussels, Trump at one point even suggested he was frustrated with the body's decision to construct a new building.
"I never once asked what the new NATO headquarters cost, I refused to do that," Trump said, having just a moment before reprimanded the crowd of European dignitaries for not paying more.
"Over the last eight years, the U.S. spent more on defense than all the other members of NATO combined," he said, repeating a campaign message.
The bad things Trump said about NATO before he suddenly liked it
Trump had been a merciless critic of NATO during the campaign, taking particular aim at the small number of countries that don't spend the agreed-upon 2% of their gross domestic product on defense — a message he revisited Thursday.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks beside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the start of the NATO summit in Brussels on May 25.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks beside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the start of the NATO summit in Brussels on May 25. (JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS)
The world would be "safer," he added, "if all the other members … had spent just the 2% of the GDP."
"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," he said, nodding to Monday's attack in Manchester.
Tweet
X
President Trump used his first-ever speech at NATO headquarters in Brussels Thursday to lecture his fellow world leaders over how much they pay into the international body, drawing on the horrors of the Manchester attack to implore them to contribute more.
Standing before fellow presidents and prime ministers of NATO countries at the international group's new headquarters in Brussels, Trump at one point even suggested he was frustrated with the body's decision to construct a new building.
"I never once asked what the new NATO headquarters cost, I refused to do that," Trump said, having just a moment before reprimanded the crowd of European dignitaries for not paying more.
"Over the last eight years, the U.S. spent more on defense than all the other members of NATO combined," he said, repeating a campaign message.
The bad things Trump said about NATO before he suddenly liked it
Trump had been a merciless critic of NATO during the campaign, taking particular aim at the small number of countries that don't spend the agreed-upon 2% of their gross domestic product on defense — a message he revisited Thursday.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks beside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the start of the NATO summit in Brussels on May 25.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks beside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the start of the NATO summit in Brussels on May 25. (JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS)
The world would be "safer," he added, "if all the other members … had spent just the 2% of the GDP."
"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," he said, nodding to Monday's attack in Manchester.
Why Tech Is the Key to Bridging Generational Gaps Paid Content by DeVry University
Why Tech Is the Key to Bridging Generational Gaps
As a candidate Trump also ripped the 28-member organization as "obsolete," but has since softened his stance.
His stop at the NATO headquarters in Brussels was just his latest on his first international trip as President. In recent days, he visited Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Palestinian territories and the Vatican.
But his moment at NATO appeared to be the first time he veered off script on the trip, which until Thursday had gone on without controversy.
Trump's apparent insults of NATO-member spending came just days after a suicide bomber attacked an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, killing 22 and injuring dozens of others.
Trump recognized the assault by calling for a moment of silence for the victims of the "barbaric and vicious attack up on our civilization," before, suddenly, insisting the need for NATO, especially when it comes to fighting terrorism, was "great."
