Donald Trump slams European allies’ defence spending after France trip

Fresh from his trip to France Donald Trump railed against “rich” European allies, insisting that they should protect themselves.

Fresh from a trip to France where his brand of “nationalism” drew rebuke from his hosts, US President Donald Trump says “much was accomplished” in his meetings.

But he’s raising a familiar complaint about American allies’ spending on defence.

Melania Trump, Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel during the commemoration ceremony of the 100th anniversary since the end of World War I on November 11, 2018 in Paris. Picture: Guido Bergmann/Bundesregierung via Getty Images

Just returned from France where much was accomplished in my meetings with World Leaders. Never easy bringing up the fact that the U.S. must be treated fairly, which it hasn’t, on both Military and Trade. We pay for LARGE portions of other countries military protection,........

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2018

Mr Trump said on Monday morning on Twitter that the US pays billions “protecting other countries, and we get nothing but Trade Deficits and Losses.”

.....hundreds of billions of dollars, for the great privilege of losing hundreds of billions of dollars with these same countries on trade. I told them that this situation cannot continue - It is, and always has been, ridiculously unfair to the United States. Massive amounts.....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2018

He added: “It is time that these very rich countries either pay the United States for its great military protection, or protect themselves.”

Mr Trump returned late on Sunday from ceremonies marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

Exactly 100 years ago today, on November 11th, 1918, World War I came to an end. We are gathered together, at this hallowed resting place, to pay tribute to the brave Americans who gave their last breath in that mighty struggle.... pic.twitter.com/JPUkOr4rW1

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2018

There French President Emmanuel Macron rebuked Trump’s brand of politics, warning: “Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism: Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism.”

RELATED: French President Emmanuel Macron takes a new dig at Donald Trump in ‘nationalism’ speech

It comes at the close of a weekend during which the US president, who proudly declares himself a “nationalist”, stood apart from allied leaders, even on a continent where his brand of populism is on the rise.

US President Donald Trump during an American Commemoration Ceremony, November 11, 2018, at Suresnes American Cemetery near Paris. Picture: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

He had begun his visit with a tweet slamming the French president’s call for a European defence force, arrived at events alone and spent much of his trip out of sight in the American ambassadors’ residence in central Paris.

On Sunday, he listened as he was lectured on the dangers of nationalist isolation, and then he headed home just as the inaugural Paris Peace Summit was getting underway.