During his two years in office, Donald Trump has clashed with Washington’s trans-Atlantic allies over immigration, defense spending, trade barriers, the environment, Russia’s gas pipeline and the Iran nuclear deal. He says he is well-aware that Europeans lack faith in him, but still believes that he could be “the most popular person in Europe”.
US President Donald Trump has defended his “America first” approach in relations with Europe. The POTUS said it was his job to make Europeans pay more for defense, which his critics at home say has undermined his popularity across the Atlantic.
“When they say I’m not popular in Europe, I shouldn’t be popular in Europe”, Trump told reporters on Wednesday. “If I was popular in Europe, I wouldn’t be doing my job.”
Donald Trump has claimed that EU members take advantage of his country with respect to trade and defense, and has called on them to boost military spending, including within the framework of NATO.
“Germany pays 1 percent”, he said, referring to Berlin’s defense spending, which was estimated at 1.2 percent of GDP last year. “They should be paying 4 percent. They’re paying 1 percent. They should be paying even more than that. Other countries pay a small percentage of what they should be paying. So, when I say I’m sorry, folks, you have to pay up, I shouldn’t be popular in Europe.”
Source: Sputnik
