WATCH: Trump Reveals To Reporters His Take On JD Vance's Comments In The Leaked Signal Group Chat

 

Donald Trump at Trump Force One

WATCH: Trump Reveals to Reporters His Take on JD Vance's Comments in the Leaked Signal Group Chat

In a recent interaction with reporters, former President Donald Trump addressed Vice President JD Vance's controversial remarks from a leaked Signal group chat. Vance reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with bailing out European nations, sparking widespread media attention. Trump offered his perspective on the matter, emphasizing his understanding of Vance's concerns.

Trump's Take on Vance's Comments

When asked about Vance's stance, Trump said, "I understand where he's coming from. The European Union has been treating us very, very badly in terms of the VAT tax that they charge. They charge a tremendous VAT tax, and they don't sell our cars in Europe. They don't sell our agriculture in Europe. They don't let us do very much. They treat us very badly."

Trump elaborated on the trade imbalance, noting that the U.S. imports millions of European cars from manufacturers such as BMW, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz. "We take millions and millions of their cars; they take none. I don't know if they take any of our cars," Trump remarked. He further accused the EU of imposing non-monetary tariffs that make it nearly impossible for American automakers to compete in Europe.

Tariffs and NATO: Trump's Consistent Complaints

The former president defended his decision to impose tariffs on European imports during his administration. "One of the reasons I'm putting tariffs on is that reason," Trump explained. "They treat us very badly."

Trump also tied the issue to NATO, reiterating his long-standing criticism of the alliance. He mentioned that when he first took office, most of the European NATO members were not paying their fair share. "When I got involved, we had 28 countries at the time, and only seven were paid. Most of them were not paid or were substantially less than they were supposed to be. The United States was literally making up the difference," Trump said.

According to Trump, his administration's efforts led to a significant increase in NATO contributions. "I raised a lot of money for NATO—hundreds of billions of dollars. You were here last week when the Secretary General said without Trump, there wouldn't be a NATO because I got them to pay money. It was unfair; the United States was paying 80, 90, 100%."

Conclusion

Trump's remarks reflect his continued frustration with European trade policies and NATO's financial structure. While he did not criticize Vance's comments directly, he expressed alignment with the concerns over the financial burden placed on the United States. As Trump put it, "I complain about it all the time. The European Union treats us horribly on trade, and NATO has treated [us]... unfairly."

FAQs: Trump Comments on JD Vance's Leaked Signal Group Chat Remarks

1. What did JD Vance say in the leaked Signal group chat?
JD Vance reportedly expressed concerns about bailing out European countries, indicating frustration with the financial burden placed on the United States.

2. How did President Trump respond to JD Vance's comments?
Trump said he understood where Vance was coming from, citing long-standing frustrations with how the European Union treats the U.S. regarding trade and NATO financial contributions.

3. Why does Trump believe the European Union treats the U.S. unfairly?
Trump mentioned the EU's high VAT tax, barriers to U.S. automobile and agricultural exports, and non-monetary tariffs that make it difficult for American goods to compete in European markets.

4. What changes did Trump make regarding NATO contributions?
During his first term, Trump pressured NATO countries to increase their defense spending. He claimed this resulted in hundreds of billions of dollars in additional contributions.

5. Why did Trump reference tariffs on European cars?
Trump has long argued that the U.S. imports millions of European cars while Europe imports very few American cars, leading him to impose or threaten tariffs to balance the trade deficit.

6. Does Trump agree with JD Vance's stance on U.S. support for Europe?
Yes, Trump expressed agreement with Vance's perspective, noting that he has raised similar concerns in the past regarding unfair financial burdens on the U.S.