LONDON – The leaders of Britain, Canada, France and the Netherlands havebeen caught on camera at a Buckingham Palace reception mocking US PresidentDonald Trump’s lengthy media appearances ahead of Wedensday’s NATO summit.
The footage, shot by the British host’s camera pool on Tuesday evening andspotted and subtitled by Canada’s CBC, set the tone for the allies’ summitin Watford, just outside London.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson can be heard asking France’s PresidentEmmanuel Macron: “Is that why you were late?”
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau interjects: “He was late because hetakes a 40 minute press conference off the top.”
Earlier Tuesday, Macron’s one-on-one pre-summit meeting with Trump had beenproceeded by a lengthy question and answer session with the media, as theleaders publicly disagreed about NATO strategy and trade.
In the video, Macron appears to tell an anecdote about the encounter asBritain’s Princess Anne and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte look on, butthe French leader’s back is to camera and he is inaudible amid the hubbub.
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“Oh, yeah, yeah, he announced…” an amused Trudeau declares, adding: “Youjust watched his team’s jaw drop to the floor.”
As he did at last year’s NATO meeting, Trump has thrown out normal summitprotocol and used his appearances with allied leaders to field dozens ofquestions from the world’s media.
He has condemned as “nasty” Macron’s criticism of NATO, branded Europeancountries that have failed to meet military spending targets “delinquent”and railed against moves in Washington to impeach him.
Trump is due to give another news conference, this time on his own, laterWednesday after the 29 NATO leaders hold a full three-hour closed-doorsummit session and issue a statement to celebrate their unity. -APP/AFP
