"Germany is a captive of Russia"
by digby
Trump said that at the NATO meeting. Once again, it's a problem when the president of the United States is a cretinous moron.
Angela Merkel, raised in Soviet controlled East Germany, responded:
“I have experienced myself how a part of Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union. I am very happy that today we are united in freedom, the Federal Republic of Germany..."
You cannot make this stuff up:
President Donald Trump targeted Germany on Wednesday in reiterating his demand that NATO countries step up their defense spending so that they shoulder a greater share of the burden in protecting Europe from Russia.
Trump said it is not fair to American taxpayers that Germany buys oil and gas from Russia while enjoying the umbrella of defense provided by U.S. dollars. "Germany is a captive of Russia," he said, pointing out that the country pays "billions and billions of dollars" to a Russia for energy. Trump said he believed that was "inappropriate", adding: "Germany is a rich country."
Even before the pomp-filled welcoming ceremony of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization meeting here, Trump made clear in a brief exchange with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that he has no intention of easing pressure on alliance nations just because Europe is nervous that tensions could empower Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom Trump is scheduled to meet Monday in Helsinki.
He also tweeted:
Then he demanded that the governments of NATO pay 4% of GDP instead of 2%.
I think he's having small strokes or something. This is bizarre even for him.
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