Trump cancels NATO press conference

President Trump said Wednesday that he would cancel a press conference he was scheduled to participate in at the conclusion of a NATO summit in London.

Trump told reporters he planned to attend other scheduled meetings later Wednesday but that he would “probably go directly back to Washington” afterward, noting that he gave numerous press availabilities throughout the two days in London.

“We’ll go directly back. I think we’ve done plenty of press conferences — unless you’re demanding a press conference, we’ll do one — but I think we’ve had plenty of questions,” Trump told reporters during a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Trump later officially canceled the press conference in a series of tweets. 

“Great progress has been made by NATO over the last three years. Countries other than the U.S. have agreed to pay 130 Billion Dollars more per year, and by 2024, that number will be 400 Billion Dollars. NATO will be richer and stronger than ever before,” the president wrote. 

“Just finished meetings with Turkey and Germany. Heading to a meeting now with those countries that have met their 2% GOALS, followed by meetings with Denmark and Italy,” he continued. “When today’s meetings are over, I will be heading back to Washington. We won’t be doing a press conference at the close of NATO because we did so many over the past two days. Safe travels to all!”

Trump was scheduled to hold a press conference at 10:30 a.m. 

Trump spoke extensively to the press following three bilateral meetings with leaders of NATO, France and Canada on Tuesday and also answered questions alongside Merkel Wednesday morning.

Trump is slated to take part in a working lunch with what the White House described the “NATO 2%ers” followed by separate pull-aside meetings with the prime ministers of Denmark and Italy later Wednesday. Trump said at the press availability with Merkel, which took place almost an hour later than scheduled, that he still planned to attend those meetings.

Trump also addressed a clip that circulated late Tuesday showing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gossiping about his conduct at bilateral meetings the day prior. Trump called Trudeau “two-faced” and suggested he was upset that he had criticized Canada for not meeting NATO’s defense spending target of 2 percent of gross domestic product.

Trump was scheduled to speak to the press Wednesday at the same time the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing focused on potential articles of impeachment against the president in Washington.