Donald Trump rattles Europe by branding the NATO alliance ‘obsolete’
ANGELA MERKEL has led a sharp European response to Donald Trump after he branded the NATO military alliance “obsolete” and criticised the German chancellor’s “catastrophic” open-door refugee policy.
In an explosive interview with German newspaper Bild and The Times of London, Trump unleashed a volley of verbal attacks on Europe, hailing Britain’s decision to leave the European Union and saying more countries were going to quit the bloc.
“I said a long time ago — that NATO had problems. Number one it was obsolete, because it was, you know, designed many, many years ago,” he said.
“Number two — the countries aren’t paying what they’re supposed to pay. I took such heat, when I said NATO was obsolete. It’s obsolete because it wasn’t taking care of terror.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) has lashed out at Donald Trump. Picture: AFP/Odd Andersen and Joshua LottSource:AFP
Trump also praised Britain’s impending exit from the European Union as being “so smart.”
“I think Brexit is going to end up being a great thing,” he said.
With fears growing in Europe over the US President-elect’s commitment to the transatlantic alliance and over signs he will pivot towards Russia, Merkel warned that the continent now had to take responsibility for itself.
“We Europeans have our fate in our own hands,” Merkel told reporters in Berlin when asked about Trump’s criticisms, adding that she will work towards getting the EU to strengthen the economy and fight terrorism.
.@FoxNews "Outgoing CIA Chief, John Brennan, blasts Pres-Elect Trump on Russia threat. Does not fully understand." Oh really, couldn't do…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2017
much worse – just look at Syria (red line), Crimea, Ukraine and the build-up of Russian nukes. Not good! Was this the leaker of Fake News?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2017
Germany’s foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Europe was stunned by Trump’s remarks on NATO, just five days ahead of the billionaire businessman’s inauguration as president.
“The interview statements of the American president-elect … caused, indeed here in Brussels, astonishment and agitation,” Steinmeier said as he went from a meeting with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to talks with EU counterparts.
France’s top diplomat Jean-Marc Ayrault said “the best response” to Trump’s comments was “the unity of Europeans”.
NATO said it was “absolutely confident” that the US would remain “committed” to the organisation.
Donald Trump unleashed a volley of verbal attacks on Europe. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA WireSource:News Corp Australia
TRUMP MEETS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR’S SON
Trump has met with Martin Luther King III, the eldest son of Martin Luther King Jr, at Trump Tower.
Incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer announced in a tweet on Monday the pair was meeting to mark Martin Luther King Day, the public holiday commemorating the civil rights icon.
Today we observe the birthday of #MartinLutherKing – @realDonaldTrump will meet with Martin Luther King III to discuss his legacy #MLKDAY
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) January 16, 2017
It comes after Trump attacked Democratic congressman John Lewis, a civil rights activist who marched with Martin Luther King, when he called the Republican an illegitimate president.
Last year, King III spent Martin Luther King Day commemorating his father in Nashville, where he spoke out against then-presidential candidate Trump’s proposed Muslim ban, calling it “the most un-American thing I’ve ever heard of.” More recently, King III has called on Trump to expand voting rights.
Martin Luther King Jr addresses marchers during his “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. Picture: AP Photo/FileSource:Supplied
Martin Luther King III is the eldest son of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Picture: SuppliedSource:AFP
TRUMP: ‘I CAN GO BING, BING’
Trump plans to keep using his personal Twitter account, saying that he “can go bing bing bing” and make news using his social media accounts.
“@realDonaldTrump I think, I’ll keep it,” he told the Times of London, saying he won’t personally be taking over the @POTUS account used by the president.
“I’ve got 46 million people right now — that’s a lot, that’s really a lot — but 46 million — including Facebook, Twitter and ya know, Instagram, so when you think that you’re 46 million there, I’d rather just let that build up and just keep it @realDonaldTrump.”
Trump said he expected to be using social media less frequently, but claimed “it’s working.”
“I thought I’d do less of it, but I’m covered so dishonestly by the press — so dishonestly — that I can put out Twitter — and it’s not 140, it’s now 280 — I can go bing bing bing … and they put it on and as soon as I tweet it out — this morning on television, Fox — ‘Donald Trump, we have breaking news,’” he said.
Trump has 20 million followers on Twitter, while the @POTUS account has 13.5 million. But US President Barack Obama’s personal account, @barackobama, boasts 80.6 million followers.
US President Barack Obama (right) has 80.6 million Twitter followers, compared with Donald Trump’s 20 million. Picture: AFP/Jim WatsonSource:AFP
TRUMP INAUGURATION TV LISTING GOES VIRAL
A Scottish newspaper’s TV listing of Trump’s inauguration has caught people’s attention both in the UK and the US.
The Sunday Herald TV critic Damian Love reimagined the ceremony as a return of the classic science fiction series The Twilight Zone.
“After a long absence, The Twilight Zone returns with one of the most ambitious, expensive and controversial productions in broadcast history,” it reads.
“Sci-fi writers have dabbled often with alternative history stories — among the most common is the ‘What If The Nazis Had Won The Second World War’ setting — but this huge interactive virtual reality project, which will unfold on TV, in the press, and on Twitter over the next four years, sets out to build an ongoing alternative present.”
The Sunday Herald TV Section wins today. pic.twitter.com/OanCZdznGJ
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) January 15, 2017
It continues: “The story begins in a nightmarish version of 2017 in which huge sections of the US electorate have somehow been duped into voting to make Donald Trump president. It sounds far-fetched, and it is, but as it goes on it becomes more and more chillingly plausible.
“Today’s feature-length opener concentrates on the gaudy inauguration of President Trump, and the stirrings of protest and despair surrounding the ceremony, while pundits speculate gravely on what lies ahead. It’s a flawed piece, but a disturbing glimpse of the horrors we could stumble into, if we’re not careful.”
TRUMP SLAMS OUTGOING CIA DIRECTOR
Trump has slammed outgoing CIA Director John Brennan for imploring him to put his confidence in the intelligence community and develop an “appreciation” for the effect his words could have on national security.
The CIA chief defended his agency and said in a Sunday interview with Fox News’ Chris Wallace that the CIA was not trying to harm the incoming President or his team.
“There is no interest in undermining the President-elect and the team coming in. It’s our responsibility to make sure they understand exactly the dangers that are out there,” Brennan said.
Outgoing CIA Director John Brennan. Picture: AFP/Zach GibsonSource:AFP
The billionaire businessman hit back on Twitter: “@FoxNews ‘Outgoing CIA Chief, John Brennan, blasts Pres-Elect Trump on Russia threat. Does not fully understand.’ Oh really, couldn’t do…much worse – just look at Syria (red line), Crimea, Ukraine and the build-up of Russian nukes. Not good! Was this the leaker of Fake News?” he wrote.
The US President-elect has repeatedly slammed the intelligence community over the last few weeks in response to, what he claimed, was unfair coverage caused by leaked information from intelligence figures.