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Footage appears to show world leaders joking about Trump at Nato summit Footage appears to show world leaders joking about Trump at Nato summit
(32 minutes later)
Group including Macron and Johnson appear to be discussing US president in footage from Buckingham PalaceGroup including Macron and Johnson appear to be discussing US president in footage from Buckingham Palace
A video has emerged that appears to show world leaders including Boris Johnson, Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron joking about Donald Trump at the opening of this week’s Nato summit in London.A video has emerged that appears to show world leaders including Boris Johnson, Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron joking about Donald Trump at the opening of this week’s Nato summit in London.
The video shows the leaders at a function at Buckingham Palace. Johnson asks Macron: “Is that why you were late?” before Trudeau interjects: “He was late because he takes a 40-minute press conference off the top”. The video shows the leaders at a function at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening. Johnson asks Macron: “Is that why you were late?” before Trudeau interjects: “He was late because he takes a 40-minute press conference off the top”.
Trudeau adds: “Oh, yeah, yeah yeah. He announced …” before he is cut off by Macron, who speaks animatedly to the group, but whose back is to the camera and his words are inaudible. Trudeau adds: “Oh, yeah, yeah yeah. He announced …” before he is cut off by Macron, who speaks animatedly to the group. Macron’s back is to the camera and his words are inaudible.
It is never said whom the group are talking about, but the exchange could relate to the US president, who is known for his long, rambling press conferences and who had an unscripted 50-minute back and forth with reporters on Tuesday.It is never said whom the group are talking about, but the exchange could relate to the US president, who is known for his long, rambling press conferences and who had an unscripted 50-minute back and forth with reporters on Tuesday.
After an edited cut in the film, the footage later shows an incredulous Trudeau telling the group, which also included Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands, and Princess Anne: “You just watched his team’s jaws drop to the floor.”After an edited cut in the film, the footage later shows an incredulous Trudeau telling the group, which also included Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands, and Princess Anne: “You just watched his team’s jaws drop to the floor.”
Again, it is not known whom the group are talking about, and none of the world leaders appeared to realise the conversation was being recorded.Again, it is not known whom the group are talking about, and none of the world leaders appeared to realise the conversation was being recorded.
The video was originally posted online by Sputnik News, a news agency established by the Russian government-owned news agency Rossiya Segodnya. A much longer version of the video on Sputnik’s Facebook page shows more of the interactions between guests at the reception.The video was originally posted online by Sputnik News, a news agency established by the Russian government-owned news agency Rossiya Segodnya. A much longer version of the video on Sputnik’s Facebook page shows more of the interactions between guests at the reception.
An edited version of the video, focusing on the interactions between these leaders, with the audio cleaned up and subtitles added, was posted to Twitter by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday.An edited version of the video, focusing on the interactions between these leaders, with the audio cleaned up and subtitles added, was posted to Twitter by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday.
The footage emerged after a day when Nato disunity was on full display, as Macron accused Turkey of colluding with Islamic State proxies, and Trump described Macron’s criticisms of Nato’s “brain death” as insulting and “very, very nasty”.
As he did at last year’s Nato meeting, Trump has thrown out normal summit protocol and used his appearances with allied leaders to field dozens of questions from the world’s media.
The Queen hosted world leaders at a reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night to mark 70 years of Nato cooperation and collective spirit, as protesters gathered outside, rallying against Trump and his perceived interest in the NHS in a US-UK trade deal and Nato.The Queen hosted world leaders at a reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night to mark 70 years of Nato cooperation and collective spirit, as protesters gathered outside, rallying against Trump and his perceived interest in the NHS in a US-UK trade deal and Nato.
Later, the Nato leaders adjourned to Downing Street for a second reception, this time hosted by Boris Johnson. They were greeted by a school choir singing carols as they posed outside No 10.Later, the Nato leaders adjourned to Downing Street for a second reception, this time hosted by Boris Johnson. They were greeted by a school choir singing carols as they posed outside No 10.
On Wednesday Trump is scheduled to meet the German chancellor Angela Merkel and the prime minsters of Denmark and Italy. He is also due to give another news conference, this time on his own, after the 29 Nato leaders hold a full three-hour closed-door summit session and issue a statement to celebrate their supposed unity.