monday night 8:00 on c-span2. announcer:: now, reporters look at the upcoming meeting in helsinki between president trump and president putin. from washington journal, this is one hour. allen, what was the most notable thing about the summit this week? trump, for a start. allies were somewhat shocked by the tone he took at the start. the outright demands to pay more. people in europe very nervous. because he didn't seem to commit to nato in the way that the u.s. has in the past. whenost notable thing is

he said they didn't go to 2% gdp funding, he would be prepared to go it alone and that was a discrepancy over the wording he used. but that was taken by some as an implicit threat. calling nato obsolete during the election, repeatedly. it sent shivers down the spines of his allies in europe. reinbold, what was the reaction in europe? to some of the statements trump made? did he blow up the alliance? germany, it was shock and disbelief. although the relationship has been rocky over the last 1.5 week thatwas in this

many germans woke up to the fact that trump is specifically targeting germany and the german government. and we had a poll that came out on friday that has only 9% of germans say that the u.s. under trump is still a reliable security partner. 89% said no. it is a major threat for germans right now. host: we want you to join the conversation. we will open up the phone lines to discuss the nato summit and the upcoming russian summit. democrats, (202) 748-8000. republicans, (202) 748-8001. independent callers, (202) 748-8002. if you are outside the united states, we want to hear from you at (202) 748-8003. you can also always reach us on

social media and twitter and c-span. now, how are we able to see that trump was relating personally from what we saw in the summit? we know that he had a relationship with emmanuel macron. not so much with angela merkel and theresa may. theyeir previous meetings were not long meetings. side meetings. and they didn't initially click at all. who what we know of people are friends with trump, he was expecting theresa may to be a kind of margaret thatcher failure to his ronald reagan and it didn't happen. and he described her as being

docked camera ready but it changed by the looks of it. .hey had 1.5 hours together talking through the problems of the palace. he was very pleased with his dinner. he got to sit in winston churchill's chair and the president himself described his encounter with theresa may as great and they got to know each other a lot better, personally. and personal relationships are important. and it seemed to come out from the u.k. perspective, they got well.lly host: trump is also claiming that he is getting nato allies to pay more on defense. is that true? guest: a good question.

i don't think we see proof of that at all right now. chancellor merkel has said we need -- germany needs -- to look at if it can do more than what it has already announced that it will be doing. increasing defense spending until 2024. but i don't see that she has commitment.ete host: let's go to our phone. we go to michael. good morning, we can hear you. caller: i think you guys in the 2%ia need to explain paying more to the people. because a lot of people don't understand when they say that the united states is paying for other countries. and it is expensive. that is true. has army baseses

in other countries because as .nformation they need information which is why they have the army bases there. nato, the countries in which is the one that is most likely to go to war? it is the united states. the united states goes to war, they send their armies to the united states. we pay with blood and sweat and tears. you need to explain this to people. is moreher country likely to go to war? nobody. guest: it is worth explaining the funding of nato.

there is obviously the goal of inting 2%, which was around 2006 and it has formalized since 2015. everyone is supposed to pay 2% of gdp. as pointed out, the u.s. is the global power. if youough it does -- add up and look at different countries budgets, you see the overall cost of nato, the u.s. pays 600 something of that. however, the money that the u.s. pays isn't just for the defense of europe, it is for u.s. interests around the world. so on that basis there is a disagreement over how much the u.s. has graduated to nato. yes, if you compare each country budget but as was pointed out, that is a global military operation.

criticized directly a business deal between germany and russia during the nato summit. here is a little bit. when germany makes a massive deal and germany pays billions of dollars a year to russia -- we are protecting germany and france and all of these countries. and numerous other countries make a pipeline deal with russia. they are paying billions of dollars to russia and i think that is in the rear. and the former chancellor of germany is the head of the theline company supplying gas. ultimately, germany will have almost 70% of their country controlled by russia with natural gas.

you tell me, is that appropriate? it should have never been allowed to have happened. but germany is controlled by russia. because they will be getting 60-70% of their energy from russia with a new pipeline. you tell me if that's appropriate. i think it's not. host: what was the reaction? guest: it was quite a statement by the president. angela merkel put it in a nice way, she said that growing up in east germany, i totally know what it feels like to have germany controlled by russia. and this is not a we are experiencing now. like i said. germany. the tough for because this is what trump has been doing over the past week. he mixes it all up in an attack on germany.

and migration and energy deals and trade deficits. so you take hit after hit. and it is hard for germany at the moment. let's go to kevin who is calling from london. caller: i am phoning in about your presidents behavior recently. attackse arrives, he the allies of nato. united, wegether, can stand up to russia. but if nato is divided that we have no chance. , we are this president feeling in europe frightened because this man is not reliable. goodsn't even got the manners to keep his mouth shut, quoting what she said. your president is immature and arrogant and dangerous. don't forget that the british

people paid through the world sewed don't quote americans on what you pay and what you don't. we pay our share. and in the last week, britain sent 400 more troops to support american troops. toare doing ally and we try be your friend but your president is making it very difficult. europe is concerned. this is an episode in the long history of the special relationship. as you heard, there is a lot of anger in britain. time. isn't the first winston churchill coined the term and there have been low points before. there was the iraq war. processou look at the

in the u.k., they were not on the scale of the iraq war protests when tony blair decided that was our future with the u.k. the protests were big. moments a very difficult in the relationship and i think a lot of the people in person be lastinghere will damage. it is hard to say. this will continue. host: let's go to chris who is calling from reston, virginia. tired of am sick and paying for the socialist government in europe with our money. they have early retirement and all of the good things. of the security of europe and we are tired of that.

-- that way they could learn something. john callingo to from france. thank you for calling. say that would like to trump is a disgrace. he's disrespectful. and the reputation of the usa has been destroyed by the actions of trump. talks about costs and payment, he ought to remember that the european lives have been lost helping america fight isis. in afghanistan and the middle east. europe has done much more for world peace then he gives europe credit for. and i'm sorry that the united states has been unfortunate

enough to elect a president like him. host: does europe feel underappreciated by the united states? guest: probably we do because there are so many areas where we cooperate for mutual interest. and america does have a strong interest or always used to have, the liberalbeing of democracies in western europe. for the benefit of trade. the benefit of security or the benefit of having allies. for addressing global issues and right now, the sentiment in germany and europe is that although we consider friends with united states, maybe the current president doesn't have that concept anymore of friends and enemies. but everyone is more or less a competitor.

we want you to join the conversation. democrats, you can join at (202) 748-8000. republicans, (202) 748-8001. .uests, (202) 748-8002 outside the united states, we want you to call in at (202) .48-8003 let's go to virginia who is calling from pennsylvania. first, i want to say that we love trump. that the first president has stood up to europe and told them they have to pay out. and if they think that because he did that that he isn't a good president then they are very mistaken. the american people have been upset and serious at our countries of porting all these deadbeats.

who want protection but don't want to pay for it. they should be ashamed of themselves. the whole european union. that's a disgrace. let's go to paul calling from indianapolis. i think one of the problems that people have with understanding this issue is that you have to go a little bit into the weeds. i know most people don't like to do that. but what you have to look at is what people spend their defense money on. germany has only three divisions now. none of them are floyd doubled outside of germany. latest defensee analysis, 90% of nato pasta

playable strength, the people to would actually have to go defend them would be english or canadian.r -- the greeks say that they pay. but it is their pension system. this isn't a complete discussion when you talk about the percentage of gdp. you have to look at what capacity is being purchased with that money. and who actually takes the risk. if you talk about the german or french contributions for the fight in afghanistan, but if you want to see what they are doing then look at the combat casualties for afghanistan amountd to the amazing of combat casualties for the canadiens in afghanistan. or the australians. so you really can't just talk about the money.

you have to do analysis. and as an additional point, i have a lot of friends in europe and we argue about this issue. i have a lot of polish friends and the last thing they want is armed germans in poland. host: there are a lot of americans who think nato is past its prime. to think we're seeing that? guest: from the american perspective, the cold war is over. in reference to the2%, they do spend over 2%. and they have been a reliable ally. there is a commitment to nato

because we don't know what putin is going to do. he has taken a and is in ukraine nato is not obsolete because there is from russia. when the nato summit was over, trump announced that people had committed. he talked about four percent gdp now. so you can say that going into -- it wasputin is a weakened by his opening statement. but when i left, you could argue that nato was stronger. guest: when you look at 4%, if

germany were to pay 4%, it would mean that germany would spend twice as much for its military van russia spends for theirs. and that is something -- yes, we need to spend more. the russians don't want that. and germany's neighbor doesn't want that. host: let's go to nikki. i would like to respond to the two people from virginia. nato is protecting american interests. and to the woman that suggested that trump was the first person to ask people to up their contributions? it was obama who asked first. he asked country to raise their

input up to 2%. and gave them a deadline. so maybe you guys could explain that to the people from virginia. germany, a question. germany really ended, 70%-90% on russia oil? let's explain that truth there to the american people because they listen to trump instead of doing their own research. do theecond question is, nato budgets, the contribution to nato, does any of that go towards the cyber security that all of us are so desperately in need of regarding do attacks on the western countries?

guest: it is a true about 70%. it is less than 40%. that the gasrue is pipeline between germany and russia is controversial in the european union. but it is nowhere near as bad as they said. it shows us that germany needs quickly.more act more quickly ends the president of the united states for spreading these falsehoods. this is a moment where we need to find a group roche to public diplomacy and react much quicker. host: let's go to tony. caller: good morning. lastted to correct the

because about what the president said he could people seem to lose the lines. relying for 70%? ultimately, i suggest you google that. if germany was, allows russia to control the until something terrible happens in ukraine or outlying countries, how does germany then join in the sanctions. in crimea, in the coldest part of winter, when all putin would have to do is reduce the national gas? it is lunacy.

not the best spokesperson for his ideas. to me how itplain makes sense for a nato country to rely on russia for its economy security then maybe i will rethink my session. guest: it is and 39 percent of the energy. it is 39% of the gas. 9% that germany gets from russia. we are not dependent on russia. but it makes sense for germany to pursue the project because we have always dealt with russia even during the cold war. that is that something new. and second of all, when you look at the proposed type line --

proposed timeline, it makes sense because it is the cheapest gas you can get, much cheaper than what america would offer. and also, i think that russia is much more dependent on exporting its gas to germany then germany .s dependent when we talk about independence imposedook at sanctions on russia after he crimea annexation, we have to say that it was angela merkel who led the way of that aggression. so i don't see that germany would be inhibited right it pipeline or policy. host: let's go to ray.

from michigan. somebody thought that should remind the reporter from --many that there was [indiscernible] thank you. host: one of the topics that trump brought up was immigration in europe. about whatittle bit he said. i think that europe is a place i know very well. what has happened is very tough. a tough situation. we see the same terror attacks. we just left some incredible showeden and women who the things that nobody 20 years

ago even talked about. i just think that it is changing the culture. i think it is a negative thing for your. -- and iaving germany have a great relationship with angela merkel. a great relationship. but i think that is very much her germany and other parts of europe. and i know it isn't politically -- not politically correct to say that but i will say that and i will say it loud. i think the better watch themselves. you are changing culture. look at what is happening. hade countries never difficulty -- it is a very sad situation. i don't think it is good for europe or for our country. far superior to anything that has happened.

-- we are doing incredibly well considering we virtually don't have immigration laws. we have laws that are so bad that i'll even call them laws. foot on the land and you are tied up in a lawsuit for five years. so why would make that recommendation to europe. i have made it loud and clear. i laid it yesterday to 29 countries total. theresa may immediately responded to trump's comment with her thoughts about immigration in the u.k.. u.k. has a proud history of welcoming people who flee persecution to our country. we have a history of welcoming people who want to come to our

country and society. and overall, immigration has been good for the u.k.. it has brought people with different out books and backgrounds. is that weortant have control of the borders. what is inc. -- what is important is that we control who country.o the that is what we have been doing and we will continue to do in the future. response toas the the comments by trump and theresa may? guest: it depends on who you ask. but that sums up in a nutshell. diverse city. that was a process process against trump. that the anger there goes back to the election campaign and the proposed travel

ban. as that time, hundreds of thousands people signed against the ban. and that has lingered in the u.k.. britain wants to regain control of the orders. and in particular with , they want to go down to 100,000. said that this was the reason for there were many other recent as well. not least the amount of money that the u.k. paid. brexit wasment of getting that money back. the figure used in the campaign was that if you get the money that, you could spend 350

million pounds a week more on the national health service which needs it. so we saw this comments from the president but there is a differing loop and -- differing of opinions. guest: immigration is a decisive decision back home. germany faces its challenges. challenges to do for those who cannot stay. so we have our problems and in europe it is a decisive issue. very hard for chancellor merkel to get the support for her perch. what is not correct and what i hear a lot in the united states is that the situation in germany and that crime is

rampant? we know that crime in germany has been going down. so people react ray sensitively a partents, that is it of the irritation between trump and merkel. .ost: let's go to henry good morning. to the i want to mention people that nato was put in place for the protection of the allow nuclearto leaders to. -- to not take place. but now with the white house turning their back on europe, i wouldn't put it past them to unite mightier than they are and -- becomeo cooler super nuclear powers who then turned their backs on the united states to protect themselves. it's a shame that an individual

in the white house is thinking of enriching himself rather than americans and democratic institutions. from russia to germany, the united states has and equal tong going on from mexico the united states in houston, texas. they have a pipeline with a transfer of oil and gasoline. same thing from canada to the united states. germany isn't the only one doing international trade. we have a mutual understanding as an attacket up against nato is an attack against all. clear on the

september 11 attacks as the response. caller: thank you for taking my call. both of the guests who are here. thank you for being here. we want you to know and take the people that we, 70% of us, we value our relationship with you and that 30%-40% support the more on in office. now ties with russia to the gas --uation, what about america america having ties with china, , china had over 3 trillion four $4 trillion of our debt. so what about that? that is a security risk.

that, bet you to know patient with us. for roberting mueller to come through with this because we know he is guilty. and we are registering to get out to vote to remove this idiot. please be patient with the 70%. nato should go for what is best for you guys. thank you for taking my call. host: one thing we haven't talked about is the summit between trump and putin. what do you expect out of this summit. ?etween trump and often guest: the key is that it is a one-on-one meeting. in diplomatic circles in europe about what will be said when trump and

putin are alone in the room with interpreters. there are theories on that side there may be concessions to russia made, without recognizing crimea as russian or whether it is an agreement to remove troops from syria. that.rump could offer or it is feasible that he could agree to stopping nato exercises in the baltic sea. again, wouldn't go down well with european allies. singapore, trump came out of his meeting with kim jong-un and revealed that he had agreed

south korean europeanexercises, allies, asian allies and the pentagon -- it was news to them. there is no business in european circles about what exact the he is going to put on the table. when he meets putin. than: more nervousness about the kim summit. this is a much bigger issue. there is a fear that there will europe iswhere he left out. and for germany, it is the question about ukraine and crimea. trump has hinted at different occasions that he might move towards recognizing the annexation of crimea. this is certainly something that chancellor merkel would be concerned about.

trumpm sure she told about nato. if anybody else sees the irony in trump saying that nato isn't paying their fair share? an "businessperson" who filed bankruptcy five times and, either way, mar-a-lago wanted 61 immigrants to work in their building. does anybody see the irony in all of this? or is it just me? i doubt it. go to joshua calling from new mexico. caller: i just wanted to say

here,hese two people on none of them are americans but we are talking about nato and the u.s. summit. these people don't care. who is the "these people?" the people on your show. they don't care about americans. they don't care about us. donald trump cares about us. trump puts america first. bro.t on, pat. let's go to by somei am disgusted of the callers who have called it. trump is the most inept president we've ever had and he's going to ruin all the good

work that's been done over decades. and thank you to the two gentlemen on the show, i really am disgusted by that, just made. i don't know what else to say. but i agree with that other lady that 70% of us will try to get rid of this guy that lives in the white house. because i was a democrat and i am now independent because i don't like what happened during the last election. we have messed up. i could use another word but i won't on national television. that is it for me. guest: thank you for the questions. as we talked before about the america isationship, hugely popular in the u.k.. we have had a long relationship. seeing with nato

and the eu, there are disagreements. but at the end of the day, it disagreements -- hopefully we come out stronger in the long run. guest: what we haven't talked --ut yet is the big question how can friends actually deal with. so far, we have seen that chancellor merkel has a laid-back approach. i think she thinks she can't convince him anyway so the other approach with president macron or president trudeau -- it hasn't worked out at all. he is a challenge. how can you actually tried to influence the american president and convince of the advantages of a strong alliance. davis calling to from texas. caller: this is one of those

mornings where the predominance of your calls is on one side. trump -- of.s. once the u.s. wants trump thrown out. much are we dependent on iran? 9%. if you watch the world economy when anything political happens, it causes the price of oil to go up. it doesn't take much. it doesn't take much to throw an economy into turmoil. 9% is huge. and that is going to get bigger. but it isn't that number in my mind. it is that you do a deal with to guys who you are looking

protect you from. they did the same thing in 83 when reagan came over there. the soviet middle range missiles. people protested all over europe, standing up to russia. this is the history of europe. and british signed a secret agreement. our president went to their side to try to create world peace. nothing happened. the world carved of what was left. the beginning of world war ii. germans contributed 1.2% of their economy to defense and

what we contribute to nato or , that is a small piece of what the united states contribute to the overall defense of europe. nash the block of other countries working with them. you depend on us to keep them out only to -- and we have helped. we helped to rebuild your and japan after the war. 120 aircraft carriers. the only nuclear weapons for years among any other countries -- we gave it back. conquestas the wave of

and we don't get that much credit for it. thank you. you are right. a lot of england -- a lot of about that.e right there is so much interdependency for hearing and germany. on the unitednt states. this is why there is so much at stake at the moment for germans. we are so interdependent with other major players. so there is appreciation for what america has done. but there is a lot of concern that america is turning its back on germany. host: is their concern about trade being affected between europe and the united states out of this summit.

guest: yes. said he would stand up for america on trade. eu.e is a deficit with the whether it is 100 or 150, that is open to interpretation. getting trade deficits down. agree with the strategy of the tariffs, that is what he is trying to do. eu side, this is something we have to deal with. will talk about these friends asked all caps, we are chasing the same dollars. from been -- from britain's if, the great hope is that the eu will get their own trade deal.

and that will be a lot better to a betterill only economic future for us. go to cyrus calling and spain. i think he said that if germany where to spend 2% of the gdp, they would spend twice as much as russia but that is misleading. secondly, comments about europe contributing to afghanistan. europe came in to say ok, let's do nationbuilding. andnow the troops are gone american troops are there to a small degree. and i would like to take the that inity to to say

disagree with mike u.k. compatriots. -- i't like trump hostile don't like trump style. he said germany spent 4%. that is what trump suggested in brussels. and this is also something for the germans. they didn't talk -- they didn't have as many casualties as americans but it is a big commitment. due to our history we have been very hesitant to engage in combat operations. and this is something that germans take pride in. that we are the second largest -- we sent the second-most troops into nato missions. and we play an important role in

afghanistan. germany would love to have this recognized by trump. to dennis calling from massachusetts. guests'soth of your need reminding that a recent document confirmed that the secretary of state james baker promised gorbachev in return for the dismantling of the war and solution of the warsaw pact, nato wouldn't expand any further eastward than the previous position. then we found out that nato invaded the former yugoslavia and poland and the baltic state. natohis encirclement where -- try to become part of nato. we see this in georgia. it is aggressive in this whole episode.

and the credibility is up there with the sun, the mirror. political have a funny cartoon section. guest: i appreciate the comment about the cartoon. it is very funny. you are right. nato has expanded several times. it started with 12 nations. now twice the size of that. so there is a worry getting in circles by nato that keeps getting pushed back. and that is why trump metals in other countries. so the question -- how do we in europe make ourselves safe from putin?

part of that has been getting other nations into nato. you have a kill block that stops wars tween those nations. in the long run that seems like a good thing. i would like to make a comment about how it worked before under barack obama. crimear when we promise that if they turned over their nuclear weapons we would reject them? do?what did big barack nothing. when there was a redline in syria? nothing. his spineless absence caused a lot of the problems in europe. why are you guys urinating for the days when we stood up for that. we did nothing and nato did

nothing. so what is the use and spending the money on military forces if when something you say you are going to do, you don't do. you walk away from. listen, if it all blows up, it all blows up. i blame the whole effectiveness -- if you say you're going to do something and you don't than what is the use? why do you spend the money. thank you for your comment. i think the annexation of crimea ,nd the war in ukraine shows us the europeans, that the threat is far from being over. maybe we are less concerned then we should have in. so you are right. the reaction was not strong. why a lot of people,

especially trump and people in europe, have come to the conclusion that we need to do more for our own defense regardless of what the president here is saying. it is a project that has been started in europe. so yes, i think that is true. thinkt necessarily everyone does want the days of barack obama back, but you are right. it did create big problems over there. bob. let's go to caller: i would like to point out elephant in the room that has been missed. this man in the white house has subsidiary of money from russia out of deutsche bank. everyone knows he can't get

money from american banks. go riding hisg to finger at people. tosnubbed people like her one. i called in a few months ago when they had a couple of professors on talking about russian relations. old-fashioned -- which is what happened during man,ast election and this putin, head of the kgb. and during that time and for people to be so naive -- like i mentioned then on that call, if a president of the united states had been depicted as behaving in the way that this man is behaving. there would have been calls for the men in uniform that i served office remove him from

to face the firing squad. abouts his mouth immigration. and if you listen closely to the interview in the sun -- and i would advise all of you out there to listen to that and listen closely, what he is upset about is that it is no longer ethnically. . and i'm not going to go there thehe talks about immigrants nonstop. his wife couldn't produce her documentation. she was going to have a press buterence to show the media they had to cancel that because she couldn't produce her documentation. and if you listen closely, like i said, to this interview in the sun, he doesn't understand accountability. he wants to keep his tacky

apartment when we -- when he owes a billion dollars. it is funny that people who worship him think he is a marvelous businessman. what he was marvelous at was defaulting on money and suing banks for money that he thought they owed him. guest: you mentioned the sun interview. that did -- that did have a big as far asthe u.k. and is whybusinessman, that a lot of people voted for him. bringing the executive approach to the u.s. economy. i will talk about the sun interview because it is worth impacting -- because it is worth mentioning. related of that really to exit. that --as interesting

it was unusual for a foreign leader to come to the u.k. and say so forthrightly into a heated debate in host countries. -- the mainsaid was take away from the interview -- he felt that theresa may post brexit was too soft. and she had redlined that she initially set out about brexit had softened. like there will be no relate in the european court -- there would be no role in the european court of justice. so, it is a very unusual thing for him to do, and it led to an apology.

he did actually apologize to her for doing that, so that was a very interesting development. host: we would like to thank our announcer: c-span's washington journal, live every day with news and policy issues that impact you. coming up tomorrow morning, discussing president trump's meeting with president putin. then, talking about russia's military presence in syria and the balkans. to watch c-span's washington journal live monday morning at 7:00 a.m. me eastern time. join the discussion. >> president trump and russian president vladimir putin are scheduled to hold a news conference following their

meeting in helsinki on monday. pres. trump: tonight it is my honor and privilege to announce that i will nominate judge brett to the united states supreme court. >> mr. president, i'm grateful to you. your confidence in me. announcer: brett kavanaugh of the district court of appeals for the district of columbia for the nominated supreme court. >> after talking to them yesterday morning, i look forward to doing whatever i can to ensure his bipartisan confirmation. he is confirmed, women's ies,sions about their bod

the quality of our air and water, and much more will be at risk. >> i cannot think of anybody who is more qualified to serve as the next justice on the supreme court. announcer: watch any time on c-span.org or listen with the free c-span radio app. on thursday, treasury secretary steven mnuchin testified before the house financial services committee on the state of the international financial system and the effects of the tax reform legislation signed into law by president trump in november. this is three hours.