The globe is abuzz this morning after the New York Times published an interview with GOP nominee Donald Trump where Trump questioned if the U.S. would meet its NATO treaty obligations if another NATO country was attacked.
Trump said he wouldn't automatically defend NATO members like the Baltic States from a Russian attack https://t.co/bWXyCKaf6g
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 21, 2016
NATO’s response:
Statement from NATO re Trump comments — pic.twitter.com/iNmGjIt4ML
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) July 21, 2016
Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort quickly blamed the NYT for misquoting Trump:
Manafort tells me NYT misquoted Trump on defending NATO allies and respecting existing agreements. Says it does this a lot. NYT, got a tape?
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) July 21, 2016
David Corn: "Did the Times get it wrong?"
Manafort: "I am saying the Times got it wrong."
per @deirdrewalshcnn https://t.co/3Ii3ot1s6P— Ted Davis (@TeddyDavisLA) July 21, 2016
What's interesting about this is that even Manafort recognizes this is a Category Five f**k-up. https://t.co/gT1tzZJx0c
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) July 21, 2016
But did Manafort really think the NYT wouldn’t publish a transcript in response to his accusation?
Manafort said NYT misquoted Trump about NATO. Now NYT has published the interview transcript ?? https://t.co/We1XzVb7N5
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 21, 2016
Transcript: Donald Trump on NATO, Turkey’s Coup Attempt and the World – https://t.co/pA75X6UWJg https://t.co/eNSy7B8yos
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) July 21, 2016
There’s a tape, too:
Manafort says Trump was misquoted…
TRUMP: You have the tape going on?
SANGER: We do.
HABERMAN: We both do.
— Rick Dunham (@rickdunham) July 21, 2016
Amazing.
Who dumb is @paulmanafort? So dumb he tried to lie about @maggieNYT and @davidsanger's NATO interview. https://t.co/4m8uZCzI33
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) July 21, 2016
Um, guys, the transcript of @maggieNYT & @SangerNYT's new interview with Trump is more amazeballs than their story. https://t.co/8iKJ6ZSrmn
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) July 21, 2016
White House press secretary Josh Earnest hit back at Trump from the podium this morning:
Despite Trump remarks on @NATO, @PressSec stresses the US commitment to alliance principle of "mutual self-defense" is "iron clad."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 21, 2016
"There should be no mistake or miscalculation," says @PressSec, about the US commitment to @NATO. pic.twitter.com/hUAyfvHRyI
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 21, 2016
And so has Hillary Clinton:
Clinton camp's Jake Sullivan releases lengthy overnight statement responding to Trump's NATO comments in NYT story pic.twitter.com/nCl1OLVR1V
— Monica Alba (@albamonica) July 21, 2016
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