Trump's national security team blindsided by NATO speech

[Jacque67 7,328]

When President Donald Trump addressed NATO leaders during his debut overseas trip little more than a week ago, he surprised and disappointed European allies who hoped—and expected—he would use his speech to explicitly reaffirm America’s commitment to mutual defense of the alliance’s members, a one-for-all, all-for-one provision that looks increasingly urgent as Eastern European members worry about the threat from a resurgent Russia on their borders.

That part of the Trump visit is known.

What’s not is that the president also disappointed—and surprised—his own top national security officials by failing to include the language reaffirming the so-called Article 5 provision in his speech. National security adviser H.R. McMaster, Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson all supported Trump doing so and had worked in the weeks leading up to the trip to make sure it was included in the speech, according to five sources familiar with the episode. They thought it was, and a White House aide even told The New York Times the day before the line was definitely included.

 

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/05/trump-nato-speech-national-security-team-215227

monday morning...spicer, sessions, McMaster, mattis...

 

 

and trump has only filled 14 out of 120 positions in the state department ...but hey, at least he don't talk fancy!!!

Edited June 5, 2017 by Jacque67

[Mr&Mrs G. 903]

I believe this is a reaction to France and Germany's push for an EU army.  If Europe puts less money into NATO and at the same time build an EU army they would be shortchanging the US on NATO commitments.

 

Trump warned the EU about this before he took office.