| | | | Trump outrages on the world stage, again | | On Wednesday, when asked how the first day at the NATO summit was going, President Donald Trump said it was "very good." That comment, however, followed his accusing Germany of being "a captive of Russia," calling members of the alliance "delinquent" in their defense spending and insisting they increase their contributions.
Regarding Trump's performance, former Obama administration Secretary of State John Kerry tweeted: "The President set America back this morning. He is steadily destroying our reputation in the world."
The summit, held in Brussels, Belgium, is known as one of the most important meetings of Western leaders. Last time President Trump met with world leaders at the G7 summit in Canada, it was what Chris described as "absolute chaos."
So decide for yourself: Let's take a look at what went down on day one of Trump's travels overseas: - The Germany-Russia comment: Trump kicked off the day by accusing fellow NATO ally Germany of being beholden to Russia because it buys energy from Moscow, in pointed remarks ahead of a summit of the military alliance in Brussels. "Germany is a captive of Russia," Trump said at a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, his first since arriving in the Belgian capital. "It's very inappropriate."
- Merkel responds: German Chancellor Angela Merkel appeared to hit back at Trump's claim by drawing on her own upbringing in Soviet-controlled East Germany. She said: "I wanted to say that, because of current events, I have witnessed this myself, that a part of Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union. And I am very happy that we are today unified in freedom as the Federal Republic of Germany." She also touted Germany's contributions to NATO.
- The #awk post-comment meeting: Because this is a summit, Merkel and Trump had a sit-down meeting, not long after Trump made the remarks about Germany. But he seemed to change his tune while sitting next to Merkel. "We have a very, very good relationship with the chancellor," he said. "We have a tremendous relationship with Germany." Trump also congratulated Merkel for having "tremendous success" and said he believes trade between the United States and Germany will increase.
- A bromance reunited, but opinions divided: Trump also met with French President Emmanuel Macron. Trump previously hosted Macron and his wife, Brigitte, for a state visit in April. Many commented on Trump and Macron's touchy-feely exchanges. This time, there was less touching but still praise from Trump. Macron, however, said he disagrees with Trump's earlier comments about Germany being "a captive of Russia."
- Trump's proposal: Trump suggested today that NATO countries boost their defense spending to 4% of their GDP, the White House says. But according to the latest numbers from NATO, the United States doesn't even spend that much, CNN's Kaitlan Collins reported.
- The agreement: CNN's Jeremy Diamond reported that NATO leaders, including Trump, agreed to bolster the alliance's deterrence and defense capabilities to counter Russian threats, just days before Trump arrives in Helsinki, Finland, to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.The communique -- a joint statement issued during the summit -- also focused on increases in defense spending and improved burden-sharing, an issue Trump has repeatedly harped on.
- A party: The night concluded with Tump and first lady Melania Trump's dinner with other NATO leaders and spouses.
The Point: Trump's comments at the NATO summit seemingly further alienated the United States from its allies. And this is only day one of his foreign trip.
-Saba | | "[John Kelly] was displeased because he was expecting a full breakfast and there were only pastries and cheese."
-White House press secretary Sarah Sanders in a statement to The Washington Post when asked why Trump's chief of staff seemed uncomfortable at times during the NATO summit's breakfast meeting. | | | RYAN CALLS REP. JORDAN A 'MAN OF HONESTY' | | House Speaker Paul Ryan defended Rep. Jim Jordan on Wednesday amid allegations the Ohio Republican turned a blind eye toward alleged sexual abuse while he was an assistant wrestling coach two decades ago. "Jim Jordan is a friend of mine," Ryan said at a news conference on Capitol Hill. "We haven't always agreed with each other over the years. But I always have known Jim Jordan to be a man of honesty, and a man of integrity."
Read more in CNN's story by Sunlen Serfaty, Liz Turrell and Daniella Diaz. | | | Today's topic, tackled by Brenna: Good news/bad news on the family separation front. | | OBAMA STARS IN NEW ANTI-GERRYMANDERING VIDEO | | CNN's Maegan Vazquez reported Wednesday: "Former President Barack Obama is the star of a new video released Wednesday to promote the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, an organization aimed at battling partisan redistricting led by his former Attorney General Eric Holder. In the nearly three-minute video for the organization, Obama advocates 'rethinking the way we draw our congressional districts.'
"Today, technology lets the party in power precision-draw the map in a way that packs the other party's supporters into as few congressional districts as possible. It's why your district might be shaped like a corkscrew. But it's also how a party gains more seats while winning fewer votes, which isn't fair," he says, adding, "It means that politicians don't have to worry as much about a serious challenge from the other side. That moves our debate from the rational, reasonable middle where most Americans are to the extremes."
Read more in CNN's story here. | | A RANDOM FEUD: SARAH PALIN VS. SACHA BARON COHEN | | Here's a headline we didn't expect to read in 2018: "Sacha Baron Cohen enrages Sarah Palin with 'evil' humor."
Palin, a former US vice-presidential candidate, lashed out at the comedian, saying he tricked her into an interview for his upcoming TV show. From CNN's story: "Palin said she was lured in under the auspices of doing an interview for what she thought was a legitimate historical documentary for a US TV network, Showtime. She sat for a long interview with someone she 'presumes' to have been Cohen -- disguised as a disabled U.S. military veteran."
"I join a long list of American public personalities who have fallen victim to the evil, exploitive, sick 'humor' of the British 'comedian' Sacha Baron Cohen," Palin wrote in a Facebook post. Baron Cohen, known for his "Borat" fame, has been filming a new show under cover, which he teased on Twitter on July 8. He did not respond to CNN's request for comment. | | COLLINS' RELIABLE GOP VOTE | | CNN's Harry Enten reports: "Maine Sen. Susan Collins has built a reputation as a maverick. She burnished those credentials by being one of three Republicans to vote against the Republican health care plan (that sought to replace Obamacare) in 2017. Democrats are hoping Collins will defy her party once again and vote against President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh."
"But a Collins 'no' vote on Trump's nominee is not something Democrats should bet on. In 2017 Collins voted with her party 87% of the time on party-line votes. That was by far the highest in her career." Read more in Harry's analysis here. | | CNN's Katelyn Polantz reported: "Prosecutors say Paul Manafort's July trial in the Eastern District of Virginia should not be postponed as Manafort requested -- and they drop several details about Manafort's extensive contact with the outside world while he's behind bars.
"Manafort has had hundreds of phone calls to his lawyers and even more to others from jail and sent emails through his lawyers to outside contacts, special counsel Robert Mueller's team wrote in a new filing. Regarding how he's prepared for trial, prosecutors heard him say on a taped call that he's reviewed all evidence before his trial, met with his lawyers every day and has 'all my files like I would at home,' the filing says.
The filing also stated:On the monitored prison phone calls, Manafort has mentioned that he is being treated like a "VIP."
Read more here. | | | From Brenna: "NATO attendees got to see a lady attached to balloons dance midair. (This is the single greatest GIF caption I will ever have the fortune to type.) Make your friends dance for joy by introducing them to The Point. Tell them they can subscribe to the newsletter here." | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media, and more. Our authors for The Point are Chris Cillizza and Saba Hamedy. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris or Saba. Follow on Twitter: Chris and Saba.
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