Trump team in disarray, Republican US Senator John McCain tells Europe
Speaking at a security conference in Germany, John McCain, a Trump critic, said the recent resignation of the US national security advisor indicated that there are deep problems in Washington.
In Short
- Senator John McCain said the Trump team is in disarray.
- We should watch what Trump does, not what he says, McCain added.
- McCain went on to urge European countries not to give up on the US.
US Senator John McCain told a conference in Europe that the recent resignation of US President Donald Trump's national security advisor indicated that the Trump team was in "disarray." McCain, a known Trump critic, belongs to the Republican party, same as the US president.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, McCain said, "I think that the Flynn issue obviously is something that shows that in many respects this administration is in disarray and they've got a lot of work to do."
The US senator was referring to the recent resignation of Michael Flynn as Donald Trump's national security advisor. Flynn resigned over his contacts with Russia and over allegations that he misled US Vice President Mike Pence regarding his conversations with Russian diplomats.
MCCAIN: TRUMP STATEMENTS CONTRADICTORY
"The president, I think, makes statements (and) on other occasions contradicts himself. So we've learned to watch what the president does as opposed to what he says," McCain said at the Munich conference, before going on to urge the forum not to give up on the US.
"Make no mistake, my friends: These are dangerous times, but you should not count America out, and we should not count each other out," he said.
Also read: Michael Flynn, Trump's national security adviser, resigns in controversy over Russian links
US OFFICIALS REASSURE EUROPE
Officials from the Trump administration, meanwhile, have sought to reassure European governments, which have been unsettled by the signals sent by Trump on a range of foreign policy issues from NATO and Russia to Iran, Israel and European integration.
Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson addressed G20 counterparts in Bonn, Germany, where they took more traditional US position.
Vice President Mike Pence is expected to address the Munich conference today and will say that Europe is an "indispensable partner" for the US, a senior White House foreign policy adviser said.
Also read: US President Donald Trump to meet NATO leaders in Europe in May, says White House
PROBLEMS IN WASHINGTON
McCain's comments come against the backdrop of multiple controversies surrounding President Trump and his policies. His move to severally restrict entry in to the US from seven Muslim-majority countries sparked chaos at airports in the US and was slammed by several quarters. That immigration order was later blocked by courts and Trump is now preparing to issue a revised directive.
The controversy over the immigration order was followed by allegations that Michael Flynn discussed lifting sanctions imposed on Moscow during conversations with Russian diplomats. The discussions reportedly took place before Trump assumed office.
Soon after Flynn resigned, new allegations surfaced that other Trump aides too had ties with Russia. The claims have been rejected by Trump.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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