Trump: "Defense Cost Charges to Allies Exploiting the US" (Summary)

Top Priority Identified for Re-election
Concerns Over Increased Defense Cost Pressure if Re-elected
Changes in US Presidential Candidates' Acceptance Speeches
Trump Says "Might Do It from the White House"
Biden Delivers Speech via Video from Home

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized that pressuring allied countries to increase defense cost-sharing will be his top policy priority if re-elected.

On the 5th (local time), President Trump stated this in an interview with Fox News when asked about his top priority if re-elected. He said, "I have been reclaiming trade from other countries that have been taking advantage of us for years," adding, "Our allies have also been taking advantage of us for years," and claimed, "They are not paying their bills. They are delinquent." President Trump emphasized, "Everyone says they are great allies, but they have to pay the bills."

President Trump cited the example of reducing U.S. troops stationed in Germany. He said, "They owe us billions of dollars and owe NATO billions of dollars," adding, "They (Germany) are a wealthy country and must pay their bills." He further stressed, "Why should we defend other countries and not be compensated?"

Since President Trump spoke about defense cost burdens as a problem not only with Germany but with all allied countries, the possibility of increased pressure on defense cost-sharing from allies such as Germany, South Korea, and Japan is growing if he wins re-election.

The U.S. has already signaled changes in defense cost-sharing negotiations by appointing Donor Welton as the new chief negotiator for U.S. Forces Korea defense cost-sharing talks, stating that he will oversee negotiations not only with South Korea but also with Japan and other global defense cooperation matters.

With the presidential election just three months away, this year’s party nomination conventions will look very different from previous years.

In the interview, President Trump mentioned that he might deliver his Republican presidential nomination acceptance speech at the White House. Earlier, President Trump canceled the Republican National Convention scheduled for the 24th to 27th in Jacksonville, Florida, but had not disclosed where he would deliver the acceptance speech.

When President Trump said, citing cost issues, "I am thinking about doing it at the White House. I will probably do it live from the White House," immediate criticism erupted in U.S. political circles. It was pointed out that if a sitting president delivers an acceptance speech at the White House, it would violate the Hatch Act, a law that restricts political activities of public officials performing duties with federal funds.

The Democratic Party’s convention plans have also been significantly changed. The Democrats decided on the same day to hold all scheduled events of the convention planned between the 17th and 20th virtually. The Democratic National Committee announced in a statement that, following health authorities’ advice, speakers would not attend the convention scheduled in Milwaukee.

Accordingly, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden will have to deliver his nomination acceptance speech via video. Tom Perez, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, claimed that this decision to hold a virtual convention represents "the stable and responsible leadership America needs that Biden will bring to the White House."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.