Trump Continues to Lie, Bash Friends, Allies, and Partners: Never Putin Why Not

Trump's latest target is NATO and the European Council (EU)

Trump's first NATO summit following his NATO bashing

 (He seems a tad bit preoccupied) 

Update of the previous Factcheck information and the post that follows from The AP via MSN here: 

Ladies and Gentlemen, entering center stage

for your enjoyment

(The Liar-in-Chief of the United States)

Original post from here: One of busiest jobs in the world today and most-critical one, too, in many aspects, is that by FactCheck.org. 

FactCheck are the ones who work overtime disproving probably 95% of what Trump spews practically on a daily basis. Makes one wonder how do they keep up – but thank goodness for their fine work – case in point:

Factcheck’s latest from Trump: It’s another whopper – this one slamming NATO who is our biggest long standing historical military partner within that 29-nation military alliance.

The Trump Lie: Trump still conflates our share of NATO’s direct and indirect spending by claiming that the U.S. “is paying for 90% of NATO.”

NATO officially says: “In direct costs, the U.S. currently pays about 22% of NATO’s principal budgets that are funded by all alliance members based on a cost-sharing formula that factors in the gross national income of each country. 

The principal budget categories include the civil budget, the military budget and the NATO Security Investment Program (NSIP), and direct contributions are made to finance requirements of the Alliance that serve the interests of all 29 members — and are not the responsibility of any single member — such as NATO-wide air defense or command and control systems. Costs are borne collectively, often using the principle of common funding.”

Trump’s claim is a false, blatant flat-out lie that even his own ambassador to NATO, former U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) said so on PBS News Hour recently.

This just in from BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Council President Donald Tusk told U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday to stop berating NATO allies over military investment levels ahead of what is expected to be a fraught alliance summit. 

Tusk, a former Polish PM, said to Trump after a signing statement on more cooperation between the European Union (EU) and NATO: “Dear America, appreciate your allies, after all you don't have that many.”

As he left the White House, the Republican president was asked about Tusk's comments.

"We do have a lot of allies, but we cannot be taken advantage of. We're being taken advantage of by the European Union," he told reporters.

European officials say while U.S. defense spending makes up 70 percent of combined allied governments' military budgets, just 15 percent of U.S. expenditure is spent in Europe on NATO-related defense. Washington pays about 22 percent of the running cost of NATO, including the headquarters and commonly-funded equipment such as AWACS surveillance planes.

"On top of that we lose $151 Billion on Trade with the European Union. Charge us big Tariffs (& Barriers)!" Trump also said in the same tweet.

EU and U.S. government data put the U.S. trade deficit with the EU at around $100 billion, including services such as finance, where the United States has a surplus. EU officials also say most tariffs on U.S. goods are already low to zero.

As he left the White House for the trip, Trump was asked by reporters about Tusk's comments and he retorted: “We do have a lot of allies, but we cannot be taken advantage of. We're being taken advantage of by the European Union.”

European officials say U.S. defense spending makes up 70% of combined allied military budgets, but 15% is U.S. expenditure is on NATO-related defense.

Trump tweet (as expected): “On top of that we lose $151 billion on trade with the European Union. Charge us big Tariffs (& Barriers)!”

NOTE: EU and U.S. data put the U.S. trade deficit with the EU at around $100 billion, including services such as finance, where the United States has a surplus. EU officials also say most tariffs on U.S. goods are already low to zero.

My 2 Cents: The question is not whether Trump misspoke or not – he seldom misspeaks – but boy does this man lie. This is a blatant, calculated lie on top of the thousands of documented lies from him since he entered office and as a campaigner. 

Amazing that the public tolerates this from him or any high level government official. Yes, why do we accept it? GOPers say “Oh, that’s who he is – just innocent political tactics to get everyone fired up and come his way in a deal.”

That may be “who he is,” but who we need. It’s flat-out lying and nothing is innocent about that from any president at any time and more so on this scale, but then again I guess it’s a label Trump cherishes: “World’s #1 Liar.” 

Seriously, lying cannot be condoned or tolerated and especially this long from our president and worse, by a seemingly gullible part of the public – that is it not nationally healthy. What to do? 

Not much it seems, but thanks for stopping by.