Pentagon scrambling in ‘full-scale damage control’ operation after Trump trashed NATO allies: report

The United States Department of Defense was reportedly forced to conduct a "full-scale damage control" operation this week after President Donald Trump trashed American allies during the NATO summit in Brussels.

NBC News reports that American military leaders made "calls to their counterparts across Europe to reassure them that America will abide by its defense commitments in the region" after Trump attacked NATO members for not spending enough money on defense.

"One thing you need in this alliance is predictability," one diplomatic source told NBC news while explaining the need for the "damage control" mission.

The military leaders reassured Europe that America would not be reducing its troop commitments in European countries and that U.S. military bases in Europe will remain open.

NBC News' sources also say that Defense Secretary James Mattis had tried to stick close to Trump during the trip for fear that he would do exactly what he wound up doing. However, Mattis' multiple commitments during the NATO summit meant that he couldn't be around to babysit the president at all times.