Former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer on Wednesday ripped The Washington Post for its attack on President Donald Trump's criticisms of NATO, saying the media would "slam the U.S." if it were the only nation not contributing 2 percent of its gross domestic product to the alliance for defense.
"The MSM shields Europe from criticism," Fleischer, who served in the Bush 43 administration, tweeted. "What nonsense."
In an editorial Wednesday, the Post bashed Trump for demanding NATO allies contribute as much as 4 percent of its GDP for defense, calling his attacks "uniquely poisonous."
"The president has consistently described NATO spending inaccurately, reflecting blatant ignorance about the way the alliance works," the editorial board said.
"He harped on the issue at a time when the pact's 29 member states, including Germany, have been significantly increasing defense investments, something that ought to be celebrated.
"Most seriously, he has repeated his critiques without offering clear support for NATO and its strategic mission — leading many European officials to suspect he is trying to destroy an alliance he doesn't believe in," the Post said.
In addition, Fleischer called on the "anti-Putin, anti-Russia, anti-Trump people" who oppose the Kremlin to call on NATO allies to raise spending, "but they don't like being for military spending, so they won't."
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