Trump’s NATO Summit Press Conference: Insults, Misstatements, and Diplomatic Jabs

During a Wednesday press briefing in Ankara, Turkey, President Donald Trump fielded questions from reporters, including Ines de La Cuatara, an international correspondent for MS NOW (formerly MSNBC). After Cuetara introduced herself, Trump launched a tirade against the outlet, calling it a “failing network” and questioning why anyone would work there. He then shifted to a discussion of allied support for the United States’ “war with Iran,” naming Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom and describing their positions as a “bad moment” despite overall “unification.”

The Independent

Trump asserted that “Spain has been very bad, but Italy has been good and almost all countries have been good.” He criticized the U.K. for allegedly wanting to “wait until the war is over,” labeling that stance “not in the spirit of Winston Churchill.” The president framed the summit’s theme as “unification,” emphasizing that, in his view, the allied nations ultimately “love us, they love each other.”

Mediaite

In the same briefing, Trump mistakenly referred to “the Islamic Republic of Japan” as having launched “111 missiles” at a U.S. aircraft carrier, describing the missiles as “knocked down, pretty much most by patriots.” He later asked reporters if they had a question for “President Putin,” prompting laughter when the audience realized he had confused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Russia’s leader.

The IndependentMediaite

Commentators note that Trump’s attack on Cuetara fits a broader pattern of disparaging female journalists, citing prior incidents in which he called CNN’s Kaitlan Collins “never smiles” and described ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott’s question as “stupid” and a “disgrace to the country.” A spokesperson for MS NOW declined to comment on the president’s remarks.

The Independent

• “MS NOW?! That’s a failing network. Why would you want to work for them? MS NOW, can you imagine? They wanted to get away. They took the name NBC because they were embarrassed by it. Go ahead. Let’s go. Wait ’til you hear this question,” — President Donald Trump

Mediaite

• “ He said: I’ll tell you what, number one, Spain has been very bad, but Italy has been good and almost all countries have been good.” — President Donald Trump

Mediaite

• “We had 111 missiles shot by the Islamic Republic of Japan. They were shot at the aircraft carrier over a period of about one hour. 111 missiles going to a very expensive ship, and every one of those missiles was knocked down, pretty much most by patriots, but by other means also,” — President Donald Trump

The Independent

• “Every one of those countries, they love us, they love each other, there was tremendous unification.” — President Donald Trump

Mediaite