Trump's US delegation was 'dumbfounded' by hostile reception at Munich conference: report

[muriel_volestrangler]

51. Politico's headline is on the nose: "Trump camp finds no appeasement at Munich"

In speech after speech, whether in public or private, European leaders lamented what they perceive as the U.S.’s disengagement from both the region and the world at large.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier opened the conference — one of the largest annual gatherings of political leaders, military chiefs and top diplomats from around the world — by accusing the Trump administration of “rejecting the idea of the international community.”

“Every country should fend for itself and put its own interests over all others … ‘Great again’ — even at the expense of neighbors and partners,” Steinmeier said, offering a précis of how he views U.S. foreign policy.

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at the forum for the first time, echoed Steinmeier the next day, noting that “what Europe wants is not quite the same as the U.S.”

U.S. officials were dumbfounded.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/16/trump-munich-security-conference-115645

Shorter U.S. Officials: