With Friends Like These: Trump’s Take on Europe
President Trump has put NATO countries on the defensive for not paying their fair share for their own defense, and he’s right to call the European Union a “foe” (“Trump plays ‘union’ buster,” July 16).
The EU hates us and is a two-faced trade competitor.
Trump is the leader of the American people, not “the free world,” and there is no longer any reason for us to be subsidizing Europe’s defense. Andrew Delaney Manhattan
President Trump very stupidly stated: “I think the European Union is a foe.” One must wonder just how mentally unbalanced this guy is.
If this wasn’t bad enough, Trump dissed NATO as “obsolete.”
While we are a very strong country, we are not so strong that we would not need any help if we were to get involved in a major conflict.
We have spent decades enjoying a great relationship with our European allies and have always known that we could depend on them if we needed their help.
It is mindboggling that we have a president too stupid to realize this very important fact. Trump is very foolish and is jeopardizing the safety of our nation. Brian Vukadinovich Wheatfield, Ind.
As an Irish person, I was appalled to see a person like Donald Trump elected US president.
Nothing he has done since the election has changed my mind — indeed, his behavior has reinforced my initial reaction.
But his behavior while representing the American people in Europe over the last week was positively destructive.
He is self-obsessed, certainly prone to numerous untruths, and is only satisfied when he is trying to plant discord wherever he goes. Eileen Jones Dublin, Ireland
Trump is right that NATO is obsolete and an unnecessary burden to American taxpayers.
NATO was formed for the sole purpose of defending Europe from an attack by the Soviet Union, which has since been reduced to Russia.
Kudos to our president for recognizing yet another waste of our funds. Myron Hecker New City
I have believed for a long time that NATO’s time has come and gone. Watching our friends in the United Kingdom demonstrating against President Trump, I know I am correct.
NATO is an ATM for the military-industrial complex on the taxpayer’s dime. Edmond Day Rotterdam