Trump can't stop attacking our allies, even as he prepares to meet one of our greatest foes.
Trump spent most of last week attacking and alienating America's NATO allies — and finished the week by calling our allies in the European Union bigger "foes" than Russia or China.
In an interview that was taped on Saturday, "CBS Evening News" anchor Jeff Glor asked Trump who he viewed as America's greatest foe — and Trump immediately identified the European Union.
"Who's your biggest competitor, your biggest foe, globally right now?" Glor asked.
"Well, I think we have a lot of foes, I think the European Union is a foe," Trump said. "What they do to us in trade. Now, you wouldn’t think of the European Union, but they’re a foe."
Trump then added that Russia is also a foe — but only "in certain respects." He also listed China as a foe "economically," but quickly added that neither country is "bad" because of that.
"Russia is a foe in certain respects. China is a foe economically, certainly they are a foe," Trump said. "But that doesn't mean they are bad. It doesn't mean anything. It means that they are competitive."
“A lot of people might be surprised to hear you list the EU as a foe before China and Russia,” Glor noted.
"No, I look at them all — look, EU is very difficult ... maybe the thing that is most difficult," Trump said. "Don't forget both my parents were born in EU sectors, okay? I mean my mother was Scotland, my father was Germany. And, you know, I love those countries. I respect the leaders of those countries."
Trump's father, Fred Trump, was not actually born in Germany; he was born in New York. It's a strange thing to lie about, but Trump has done it repeatedly, according to Toronto Star reporter Daniel Dale, who keeps track of all of Trump's lies.
And if Trump "respects" German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he didn't show it this week when he attacked Germany during a NATO breakfast.
Trump also doesn't show respect for Germany, or any of our other European allies, by attacking the EU in stronger terms than he did either Russia or China.
Trump gave Russia a pass even after a dozen Russian officials were indicted this week for crimes against the United States. And he went easy on China even after accusing China of undermining his diplomacy with North Korea.
Trump's attack drew a swift, witty rejoinder from EU President Donald Tusk, who tweeted: "America and the EU are best friends. Whoever says we are foes is spreading fake news."
This week was another disturbing reminder that Trump seems to love attacking our allies as much as he enjoys sucking up to our enemies, like Vladimir Putin.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.
