Donald Trump blasts Germany trade, spending policies
NOT to be outdone by German leader Angela Merkel’s comments that she can no longer rely on the US, Donald Trump has fired back with both barrels.
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has blasted Germany’s trade and spending policies, calling them “very bad” as the row between the two powers intensifies.
Mr Trump has renewed his criticism of Germany following Chancellor Angela Merkel’s comments that her country can no longer rely on the US in the wake of the US President’s first European visit.
We have a MASSIVE trade deficit with Germany, plus they pay FAR LESS than they should on NATO & military. Very bad for U.S. This will change
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2017
Mr Trump rattled some in Europe with his statements on NATO last week.
Ms Merkel maintained Germany’s relations with the United States are of “outstanding importance” but it must engage with other key nations going forward.
She also suggested in the wake of the Mr Trump visit that Europe’s relationship with Washington had shifted significantly and reiterated her position that “we in Europe have to take our fate into our own hands.”
Senior German politicians responded swiftly to his tweet.
Martin Schulz, leader of the centre-left Social Democrats, told reporters Mr Trump was “the destroyer of all Western values”, adding that the US President was undermining the peaceful co-operation of nations based on mutual respect and tolerance.
Thomas Oppermann, head of the Social Democrats’ parliamentary group, told reporters: “Donald Trump makes clear with his tweet that he views Germany as a political opponent.”
Despite the apparent war of words, the White House poured cold water on suggestions of a transatlantic, saying Mr Trump and Ms Merkel “get along very well.”
White House spokesman Sean Spicer tried to scotch talk of any problems.
Mr Spicer said that during a recent trip to Europe, Mr Trump had “reaffirmed the need to deepen and improve our transatlantic relationship.”
The White House also insisted that Merkel’s view of a more strategically independent Europe was not incompatible with Trump’s demand for more European defence spending.
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