President Donald Trump said Wednesday evening that NATO allies told him "we love you" during the summit in Ankara, according to Insider Paper. "These are grown people saying that. Isn't that nice?" Trump added, quipping that they might be "trying to get to me."
The remarks come hours after Trump told allies he wants to remain in NATO, as The Zioneer reported at 16:02 Jerusalem. The summit in Ankara, which opened Tuesday evening, has seen Trump alternately criticize and praise NATO members. Earlier in the week, he berated allies over defense spending and praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, calling him a "great leader." Trump's latest comments suggest a more conciliatory tone, though he also joked that the allies may be trying to manipulate him. The exchange reflects the ongoing dynamic between the U.S. president and NATO partners as they discuss burden-sharing and regional security.
- StrongTrump berates NATO, praises Erdogan as Ankara summit opens
- DevelopingErdogan says Trump's attendance at NATO Ankara summit important for alliance unity
- DevelopingReport: Trump tells Erdogan he's coming to NATO summit in July just for him
- StrongTrump reveals he asked Erdogan for unusual favor — and says he agreed
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
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