US President Donald Trump’s media conferences at the NATO summit in Ankara were the most disturbing since his session with Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Helsinki in 2018.
Back then, Trump stunned those assembled when asked whether he believed the conclusion of US intelligence agencies that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election. “President Putin says it’s not Russia. I don’t see any reason why it would be,” he replied. From that moment on, Trump’s credibi
lity in standing for America first over Russia was in doubt.
The president’s media performances at NATO were even more destabilising and erratic.
In the morning, Trump came in angry at NATO and Iran. “I’m not happy with NATO because of the fact that they didn’t want to help us with the number-one state sponsor of terror, that’s Iran. They were unwilling to help us.”
He was livid about Spain and demanded his treasury secretary cut off all trade with Spain immediately. “Spain is a wasted cause. We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore, by the way. I’d like you to cut it off […] I don’t want anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, please. They make so much money with us, and we’re going to see that they make a lot less. I want no business with them.”
Trump then reopened his imperial design to acquire Greenland from Denmark. “Greenland is a big problem for us […] Greenland is very important for the United States, but it’s not important for Denmark. In fact, when Denmark was overrun by the Nazis in less than one day. Hitler beat them out in one day took over, and they asked us to take care of Greenland. In fact, we took Greenland and then stupidly we gave it back. We shouldn’t have given it back to them because we’re the ones that need it. We need it for protection of the world, not just the United States, and it’s very important. It doesn’t help Denmark, but it helps us, and it’s very important for us.”
Trump was cold on NATO and red hot on Iran. He was asked whether the memorandum of understanding to end the hostilities, open the Strait of Hormuz, and begin discussions to denuclearise Iran was dead.
To me I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re scum. You know what scum is? They’re scum. They’re sick people. They’re led by sick people. And they’re vicious, violent people. And if they had a nuclear weapon they’d use it. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over.“
And more: “But these are evil, sick people, and we have to rid their cancer, their cancer, and you know what you do? You got to cut out cancer early. And that’s the way I feel.”
By the afternoon media session, Trump had adopted a more conciliatory, if not affectionate, tone.
I just want to say there was tremendous love in that [NATO] room […] And they have a lot of good in their heart, not evil, good. And they’re doing a great job for their country.
Trump assured the room his rough language about NATO leaders did not cause any consternation. “I mean, you know, they, they like the job I’m doing. They said, we love, sir, we love you. These are grown people saying that, isn’t that nice? Maybe, I don’t know, maybe they’re trying to get to me. And in the way they did because there was tremendous unity in that room.”
But the prospects for ending the current rounds of violence, reopening Hormuz and serious engagement on Iran’s nuclear programs are decaying rapidly. At the NATO meeting, Trump threatened imminent strikes on Iran, and a new wave of attacks has been unleashed. “This is in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!”
He signalled his awareness of his own mortality in the war with Iran. He repeatedly cites how he killed tiers of Iranian leaders. “Their leaders are gone. They had leaders they’re gone and they had another set of leaders, they’re gone. Now they have another set of leaders, they may be gone.”
Trump sees his life in danger. “They want to take out the US leader, me. I’m on every list. I saw things this morning. I’m on every single one of their lists. And so far I guess I’ve been a little bit lucky, but that maybe doesn’t last very long.”
What Trump had to say was all in the course of just one day. He left NATO proud of America’s standing. “They respect our country again […] They have more respect for our country than they’ve ever had before.”
But from this torrent of words and contradiction in speech, Trump left NATO with the Iran war continuing, the alliance under immense tension, and questions about the stability of the commander-in-chief growing.
