Politics

Schumer, Pelosi Criticize Trump For Doing Exactly What They Want

(Photo by Olivier Douliery - Pool/Getty Images)

Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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Democratic congressional leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer criticized President Donald Trump for calling out German enrichment of Russia during a bilateral meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jans Stoltenberg.

Schumer and Pelosi’s statement is particularly odd because it accuses Trump of showing loyalty to Putin for criticizing one of the Kremlin’s crown economic jewels.

Trump nearly immediately launched into criticism of Germany, saying, “I think it’s very sad when Germany makes a massive oil and gas deal with Russia, where you’re supposed to be guarding against Russia, and Germany goes out and pays billions and billions of dollars a year to Russia.”

“Germany is totally controlled by Russia, because they will be getting from 60 to 70 percent of their energy from Russia and a new pipeline. And you tell me if that’s appropriate — because I think it’s not — and I think it’s a very bad thing for NATO and I don’t think it should have happened,” he continued.

Trump’s comments referenced Germany’s approval of a major natural gas pipeline from Russia, which is set to supply a major percentage of the country’s energy needs. U.S. policymakers have long opposed the pipeline accusing Germany of putting their own desire for cheaper energy over the security needs of Eastern European countries the pipeline bypasses.

The pipeline’s bypassing of Eastern European countries like Ukraine gives Russia the ability to exert pressure on its neighbors without creating any incentive for western European countries to act on their behalf.