Trump Shows ‘Deep Knowledge’ Of History, Blames Balitc States For Starting Wars In Yugoslavia

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Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump blamed the leaders of the Baltic states for starting wars that led to the breaking of Yugoslavia, thus mixing them up with the Balkan states, French Newspaper Le Monde reported.

Trump reportedly made the mistake in a White House meeting with Dalia Grybauskaitė of Lithuania, Kersti Kaljulaid of Estonia and Raimonds Vējonis of Latvia in April 2018. The three leaders were at a loss initially and it reportedly took them a few moments to realize that Trump mixed up the Baltics with the Balkans.

In today’s ⁦@lemondefr⁩: When #Trump received the leaders of #Estonia, #Latvia and #Lithuania, he began by blaming them for the war in Yugoslavia. It took them a few moments to realise he’d mixed up the Balkans and the Baltics. ⁦@SylvieKauffmann⁩ pic.twitter.com/HYQYpbqgGs

— Mark Lowen (@marklowen) November 10, 2018

To clarify, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are located in Northern Europe, on the eastern coast of the Baltic sea.

About 1,000 kilometers south lies the Balkan Peninsula, named after its biggest mountain – the Balkan. It comprises states from the former Yugoslavia including Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, as well as Bulgaria and Greece, among others.

Yugoslavia was a state that incorporated a large portion of the region. It became socialist, following the ousting of German occupants following World War II. In the 1990s Yugoslavia disintegrated and the region was torn apart in a series of civil wars, culminating with the Kosovo war of 1998-1999.

The interesting part is that Trump’s wife – Melania was born in Yugoslavia. And she clearly did not educate him whatsoever in any of the region’s geography or politics.

According to Le Monde, Trump also once more expressed his condemnation of Nord Stream 2, which involves the construction of two gas pipelines that go from Russia to Germany, through the Baltic sea. The interesting part is that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are not part of the project.

Expectedly, the blunders became popular on Twitter, and users have presented some interesting comments:

He’s particularly pissed off at Germany for bombing Pearl Harbor.

— Gary McLean (@garydmclean) November 10, 2018

Now waiting for him to make a comment about Crocodile Dundee to the Austrian delegation.

— Tom, an advertising guy (@CreativeTweets) November 10, 2018

Isn't his wife Slovenian?

— Doomer VonDoomington (@DoomerVonDoom) November 10, 2018

In September 2017 Trump also praised a non-existing African country – Nambia, for its health care in fighting ebola.

“In Guinea and Nigeria, you fought a horrifying Ebola outbreak. Nambia’s health system is increasingly self-sufficient,” he told African leaders.

The White House later clarified that he had speaking about Namibia, not Zambia or the Gambia.

This all comes amid an increase in tension between the US and the EU. On November 9^th, Trump attacked French President Emmanuel Macron after he said that Europe needed to take more responsibility for its security.

Trump visited Europe for the November 11^th Armistice day marking the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Macron, during his speech on November 11^th criticized nationalism as the enemy, while Trump, a self-named nationalist set next to him.

“Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism: nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism,” said Macron. “By pursuing our own interests first, with no regard to others’, we erase the very thing that a nation holds most precious, that which gives it life and makes it great: its moral values.”

Trump also got heavily criticized for cancelling a visit to the American cemetery at Belleau, a site of immense importance to the US military, was cancelled because it was raining.

Winston Churchill’s grandson, Nicholas Soames tweeted:

“They died with their face to the foe and that pathetic inadequate @realDonaldTrump couldn’t even defy the weather to pay his respects to The Fallen #hesnotfittorepresenthisgreatcountry.”

Nicholas Burns, an American diplomat who served both Republican and Democratic presidents, called that choice “astonishing.”

“Did the President really not visit the American military cemetery today in France?” he asked. “It is his duty to honor our soldiers who fought in 1917-18.”

Trump also continued his attacks on Macron over Twitter on the morning of November 13^th.

Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two – How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018

The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%. He was just trying to get onto another subject. By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so!……..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018

……MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018

He also threatened to impose tariffs on wine imports from France.

On Trade, France makes excellent wine, but so does the U.S. The problem is that France makes it very hard for the U.S. to sell its wines into France, and charges big Tariffs, whereas the U.S. makes it easy for French wines, and charges very small Tariffs. Not fair, must change!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018

Thus, Donald Trump placed himself in the middle of one more partially funny, but mostly embarrassing and insulting situation.

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