'I Was The One That Got People To Pay': Trump Takes Credit For Increased NATO Spending Across EU

10 hours ago

During a press briefing on Wednesday, President Trump was asked about the United States' future in NATO.

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Transcript

00:00But I hope to be able to get there.

00:03Mr. President, does America have a future in NATO?

00:06What's that?

00:07Does America have a future in NATO?

00:08Well, NATO has to treat us fairly.

00:10If they pay their bills and if they do what they're supposed to do.

00:13When I first got involved with NATO, as you know, they weren't paying their bills.

00:16There were 28 countries and most of them weren't paying.

00:20And I got them to pay.

00:21And they paid billions and billions of dollars.

00:23I made a certain statement that I'm not going to be involved with NATO

00:26unless you're going to pay your bills.

00:28And I was asked a question.

00:30If we don't pay, are you going to help us?

00:34I said, no, if you don't pay, you're saying you're delinquent.

00:38A term, a real estate term.

00:40You're delinquent.

00:41You're not paying your rent.

00:42You're not paying your bills.

00:43If you're not paying your bills, I'm not going to help.

00:45And everybody we took in, your Secretary General will tell you,

00:49he was very generous to me.

00:51He said, I've never seen anything like it.

00:53Money came in by the billions and billions and billions of dollars.

00:56And NATO became much stronger.

00:58Now, NATO has expended a lot of that money in fighting this horrible war.

01:02It's too bad they had to do that.

01:04But they had the money from me.

01:05I was the one that got people to pay.

01:07The countries, most of the countries were not paying

01:09or they were paying a very small amount.

01:11So we'll see.

01:12But NATO can be a force for the good.

01:14Absolutely.

01:15Would you like to see Ireland join NATO, Mr. President?

01:17That's up to Ireland.

01:19Would you think Ireland and the EU are too close?

01:21Do you think that perhaps?

01:22We are very close.

01:23No, Ireland and the EU.

01:24Do you think there's too close a relationship there?

01:26Do you think there needs to be a separation, like you said,

01:28if you can't get money permission when you can get it in Ireland

01:30but you can't get it in the EU?

01:31Well, look, I can just tell you about my personal experience

01:34that Ireland treated me very well and the EU was terrible.

01:38And they stopped really a magnificent addition.

01:41It wasn't a big deal from the standpoint of the world.

01:44It wasn't like the things we're talking about now.

01:46But it would have been a very beautiful addition.

01:49And they stopped it, which is bad for Ireland.

01:51And I don't know why.

01:53I don't know why it would take five to seven years

01:55to get something approved, but that's what it was.

01:57Thank you all very much.

01:58Thank you, Chris.

'I Was The One That Got People To Pay': Trump Takes Credit For Increased NATO Spending Across EU

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