The people of the United Kingdom have exercised the sacred right of all free peoples. They have declared their independence from the European Union, and have voted to reassert control over their own politics, borders and economy. A Trump Administration pledges to strengthen our ties with a free and independent Britain, deepening our bonds in commerce, culture and mutual defense. The whole world is more peaceful and stable when our two countries – and our two peoples – are united together, as they will be under a Trump Administration. —Donald J. Trump June, 2016
Reassuring our Allies
VP Pence was in Brussels at the end of a European trip where he was comforting and reassuring allies that Trump will never abandon them. In meetings in Brussels, Pence said he was acting on behalf of President Donald Trump “to express the strong commitment of the United States to continued cooperation and partnership with the European Union.” He pledged America’s “steadfast and enduring” commitment to the EU. [Link] Brussels is the de facto capitol of the European Union.
Excuse me, VP Pence, but wasn’t our President thrilled when the UK dropped out of the EU? He even said that Great Britain had exercised the right of all free peoples, so why did you say, “Today, it is my privilege on behalf of President Trump to express the strong commitment of the United States to continued cooperation and partnership with the European Union.”
As I recall, Donald Trump and Nigel Farage actually celebrated when Britain declared their independence from the EU.
Trump/Bannon Backed Brexit
President Trump apparently caused “alarm” with some by endorsing Britain’s decision to leave the bloc and suggesting that other states might follow. He was supportive of Britain’s vote last year to leave the 28-nation EU, and he has suggested that the EU itself could soon fall apart.
VP Pence’s recent statements in Europe seem far different than Donald Trump’s and Steve Bannon’s.
Breitbart wrote in January, 2016, “The European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, lists President Donald Trump, and his chief strategist Steve Bannon, as “one of the main three existential threats facing the European Union.” Verhofstadt views Trump and his populist policy advisers as an even greater threat to the EU than Brexit itself.
And well he should. Trump knows that freedom doesn’t come from unelected faceless bureaucrats telling countries what to do.
Back in 2014, Steve Bannon spoke favorably about European populist movements and described a yearning for nationalism by people who “don’t believe in this kind of pan-European Union.”
“Western Europe,” he said at the time, “was built on a foundation of strong nationalist movements,” adding, “I think it’s what can see us forward.”
Pence on NATO
Pence voiced the administration’s strong support for NATO last weekend. His meetings were aimed at assuring European leaders that his words reflected the views of President Trump.
“Europe’s defense requires Europe’s commitment as much as ours,” Pence said. He reminded the group that in 2014 all 28 members of NATO promised to try to spend two percent of their GDP on defense by 2024. Only the United States, Britain, Poland, Greece and Estonia have met the two percent target. As a candidate, Trump repeatedly called for NATO to pay more, Pence noted.
And now Trump is president. “So, let me say again what I said this last weekend in Munich,” Pence said “The president of the United States and the American people expect our allies to keep their word and to do more in our common defense, and the president expects real progress by the end of 2017. … It is time for actions, not words.”
“The United States’ commitment to the European Union is steadfast and enduring,” he said.
Trump on NATO
However, in a January, 2017 interview with the Times of London, Trump questioned the value of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance when he was asked whether he understood why many in Eastern Europe feared Russian aggression.
“I said a long time ago — that NATO had problems. Number one it was obsolete, because it was, you know, designed many, many years ago. Number two — the countries aren’t paying what they’re supposed to pay.”
He also appeared indifferent toward the EU. “People want their own identity, so if you ask me, others, I believe others will leave,” Trump said of the political and economic union. He also said that the EU’s future didn’t matter much for the US.
Conclusion
VP Pence is a long-time politician and establishment globalist, and this is obvious from his stances during his 12 years in Congress, mentioned in my last article. However, his library from his 12 years in Congress is sealed until 2022 or his death.
President Trump however, believes strongly in freedom and sovereignty and is working toward this goal for America. Britain broke free and America must take heed to understand the same establishment who controls the EU are the same ones who are building NAFTA and the North American Union.
Is our Vice President simply assuaging Europe’s worries, or are some of his beliefs and stances in direct opposition to our President’s? Time will tell.
