Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on the “Raging Moderates” podcast Friday that she was genuinely heartened by President Donald Trump’s recent dealings with NATO and the Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations.
NATO members agreed in June to boost their defense spending from 2 percent of gross domestic product to 5 percent by 2035 after Trump pressured them.
The president followed up in July by making a deal for NATO to pay for U.S. weapons supplied to Ukraine.
Clinton said on the podcast that these moves were positive indicators of improving “common ground” between the Trump administration and America’s European allies.
“I actually was encouraged by the events of the last several months. First of all, the NATO commitment by individual member states to increase their defense spending is very welcome. It’s something that prior administrations have certainly sought,” Clinton said. “And I think it’s great that we are seeing these commitments that now have to be followed through on. The willingness of European countries to support Ukraine, and by doing so by American weapons in order to provide them to the Ukrainians.
“I think all of that is a very good signal that there is beginning to be a better understanding, both by the president and the people around him, as well as by the leaders of our European allies, that there can be common ground amongst us,” she continued. “And the kind of dismissiveness that we saw in the first Trump administration has been replaced by a much more obvious working relationship to the good of European security, transatlantic security, and hopefully Ukrainian security. So I’m actually encouraged.”
The president told NBC News in a July 10 interview that NATO would pay for U.S.-supplied Patriot missile shipments to Ukraine. Trump said the arrangement was made at the June NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Trump at the summit, even calling him “daddy.”
Rutte also credited Trump with securing the defense spending commitments during an appearance on The New York Times’ “The Interview” in July.
“I think when somebody deserves praise, that praise should be given. And President Trump deserves all the praise,” Rutte said. “Because without his leadership, without him being reelected President of the United States, the 2 percent this year and the 5 percent in 2035 — we would never, ever, ever have been able to achieve agreement on this.”
As for Clinton, this was not the only praise she had for Trump on the podcast, which was recorded before the president met with his Russian counterpart is Alaska.
“But this actually feels like such perfect timing to be having this conversation with you, as we are on the precipice of a meeting between President Trump and President Putin in Alaska. We’re recording this on Wednesday,” the hist said.
“Drawing on your experience as secretary of state, if you were en route to Alaska, what would you be looking to get? What does an acceptable deal look like? Or would you frankly not be going to Alaska at all?” she said.
Clinton responded by saying that she would not have met with Putin, but since the president is meeting with him she was keeping a positive outlook.
“If he could end it without putting Ukraine in a position where it had to concede its territory to the aggressor, had to, in a way, validate [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s vision of greater Russia, but instead could really stand up to Putin, to make it clear there must be a ceasefire,” she said.
Trump was asked for his reaction to those comments Friday aboard Air Force One by Fox News anchor Bret Baier, who was traveling with the president to Alaska ahead of his high-stakes meeting with Putin.
“That’s very nice,” Trump responded. “I might have to start liking her again.”
