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BLENHEIM PALACE, England – President Donald Trump exchanged a hot spot for another Thursday, leaving behind a controversial NATO rally in Brussels and moving to Britain, where he found a government in the turmoil and important protests. All was serene, however, during a sumptuous welcoming ceremony at Blenheim Palace
Hundreds of protesters were chanting in front of the residence of the US ambbadador where Trump was staying on the outskirts of London, offering a glimpse of the protests
Trump was taken to a warm reception oasis in Blenheim, birthplace of Winston Churchill, the larger-than-life British leader cited by the president as a model of leadership. This was only one of many helicopter towers on the agenda for Trump, whose staff chose to move it away from central London and swarms of protesters likely to provide some pictures of his first official trip to the United Kingdom [19659004] Trump's Navy A departure from the residence of the ambbadador was greeted by taunting protesters breaking pots and pans, and another pack of demonstrators lined with roads near the palace. Their signs read as "Dump Trump", "Lock It Up", "There Will Be Hell Toupee". Police work overtime, his days off canceled
Trump is welcomed at the palace by British Prime Minister Theresa May, whose government was shaken by the resignations of Brexit, the nation's controversial vote to leave the country. 39, European Union.
Before leaving Brussels, Trump played down protests, but acknowledged that he was expecting tensions in Britain. The defeat of the football team in the semifinals of the World Cup.
"I will go to some hot spots," Trump said as he watched Britain and its summit in Finland on Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "And I said," Putin is perhaps the easiest of them all. "You never know, but I'm going to a very hot place right now – no?"
The outdoor arrival ceremony at Blenheim – Trump wore a tuxedo and the first lady, Melania Trump, a yellow muslin dress, chiffon, was a big affair marked by a military group in bear skin hats, hundreds of business leaders in black tie and a beautiful sunlight. 19659008] The atmosphere was far less cheerful in Belgium
During his 28 hours there, Trump had denigrated NATO's long-time allies his commitment to the mutual defense organization. and sent the 29-member pact in a frenzied emergency session.
Then, in a pivot at the end, he declared that the alliance was a "refined machine" that had acceded to his demands to accelerate military spending to relieve pressure on the US budget. But Trump claimed that member countries had agreed to significantly reinforce their defense budgets and reaffirmed – after days of discontent that the United States was being exploited by their allies – "The US commitment to the NATO remains very strong, "Trump told reporters at a surprise press conference following an emergency session of NATO members held to respond to his threat.
Trump and NATO offered details on what Trump said he had accomplished. French President Emmanuel Macron quickly challenged Trump's badertion that NATO allies had agreed to increase defense spending beyond their current target of 2% of gross domestic product from here 2024.
"A press release was published yesterday that is very detailed," said Macron. "This confirms the goal of 2% by 2024. That's all."
Trump criticized NATO members in Brussels for not spending enough money on military issues, accusing Europe of liberating the United States and doubting it. in their defense if they are attacked.
"Yesterday, I let them know that I was extremely unhappy with what was happening," he said. "They have significantly increased their commitment and now we are very happy and have a very, very powerful, very, very strong NATO."
He added: "I can tell you that NATO is really a fine-tuned machine.People pay money that they have not never paid before, they are happy to do it, and the US is treated much more equitably. "But several leaders said the rally did not produce any new spending commitments. Instead, they said, members reaffirmed the need to stay on track with the military budget increases that have already been announced and that were deemed insufficient by Trump a day earlier.
"I clearly said we should do more" NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke of a "new sense of urgency, and all allies agreed to redouble
Since 1965, the NATO countries have set themselves the target of spending 2% of their GDP on defense in the next 10 years. estimated that 15 members, or slightly more than half, will reach the index by 2024 according to current trends
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Zeke Miller, Darlene Superville and Ken Thomas at Washington contributed to this report.] ___
Follow Colvin and Lemire on Twitter at https://twitter.com/colvinj and https://twitter.com/JonLemire
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. This document can not be published, distributed, rewritten, or redistributed.
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