Trump told ally U.S. wouldn't help if Europe was attacked — then asked for $400B: report

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French European Commissioner Thierry Breton claims that Donald Trump once said that America would not come to the aid of Eurpoean allies if they were attacked militarily, Politico reported.

"'You need to understand that if Europe is under attack we will never come to help you and to support you,'" Trump told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in 2020, according to Breton.

Breton recounted the story at an event in the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday. He says the EU's then-trade chief Phil Hogan was also present for Trump's comments.

Also read: 'This trial date will stick': George Conway thinks Trump's immunity fight will end quickly

"'By the way, NATO is dead, and we will leave, we will quit NATO,'" Trump also said, according to Breton. "And he added, ‘And by the way, you owe me $400 billion, because you didn’t pay, you Germans, what you had to pay for defense,'" Breton said.

"That was a big wake-up call and he may come back," Breton said about Trump. "So now more than ever, we know that we are on our own, of course. We are a member of NATO, almost all of us, of course we have allies, but we have no other options but to increase drastically this pillar in order to be ready [for] whatever happens.”

Read more at Politico.

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Nightmare questions about to crash on Todd Blanche over Trump's 'consigliere': expert

A legal analyst expects Todd Blanche to be confronted with tough questions about President Donald Trump's fixer during his upcoming confirmation hearing.

During an episode of Legal AF, national trial lawyer and strategist Michael Popok said that aside from questions about Blanche's handling of the Epstein files, Trump's pick for attorney general will have to answer for his ties to Trump's personal lawyer and "consigliere," Boris Epshteyn.

"There's a shadowy figure that controls all of Donald Trump's private lawyers and law firms, his battalion of lawyers going after his political enemies in courts, suing baselessly for defamation and even going after his sex abuse victims like E. Jean Carroll," Popok said. "All of those lawyers, whether they're located in Miami or in New York or in Chicago or D.C., are controlled by one person, an advisor to Donald Trump named Boris Epshteyn."

Blanche was Trump's personal defense lawyer before Trump appointed him as acting attorney general. Blanche faces a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 15 to stay on as the nation's top prosecutor.

Popok pointed out that Epshteyn has found himself in the spotlight after the American Bar Association asked a federal judge to release communications involving Steve Bannon and Epshteyn tied to Trump's attacks on law firms.

According to Popok, Epshteyn is "very close" to Blanche. Emil Bove, a Trump-appointed Third Circuit Court of Appeals judge, and Blanche "were recruited by Boris Epshteyn to be the lawyers for Donald Trump" and were assembled into what Popok called a "virtual law firm" that operated as Trump's criminal defense in his New York and federal cases.

"You also have to look at the shadowy figures that are pulling the levers of power behind the scenes," Popok said. "What I'm hoping is much of this information ends up in the briefing books for the U.S. Senators on the [Senate] Judiciary Committee as they go after and cross-examine Todd Blanche."

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'Get him on the phone': Scott Jennings feels the heat on CNN over McConnell health claims

CNN anchor Kasie Hunt didn't hold back on Friday during a live segment about Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), pushing conservative commentator Scott Jennings to call up the 84-year-old lawmaker.

Hunt and a panel of analysts were talking about the growing speculation over the longtime Republican senator's health as rumors were swirling around his unknown condition. She turned to Jennings, who claimed McConnell called him Tuesday and they spoke about a variety of topics.

CNN has since distanced itself from Jennings' claims and referred to him as a "commentator" and "not a full-time employee or journalist for the network." The network clarified this stance Friday in a statement, adding that Jennings' apparent conversation with McConnell was a personal chat, amid skepticism over the pundit's comments.

CNN political commentator Xochitl Hinojosa commented that, as other members of Congress have gone missing in recent months, raising further questions about why McConnell had not contacted Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who had requested an update on the GOP lawmaker's health, or any Democratic leaders.

"He hasn't called any Democrats," Hinojosa said. "He's talked to Scott Jennings for 20 minutes, but he can't find five minutes to call Chuck Schumer or Andy Beshear?"

Hunt, for the second time this week, suggested McConnell chat with CNN.

"Well, Scott Jennings, can you get him on the phone?" Hunt asked.

"For the record, I'm perfectly healthy. And I wouldn't call either Chuck Schumer or Andy Beshear either," Jennings quipped.

"You're also not a senator," Hinojosa responded sharply.

"I don't know why they would be at the top of his call list," Jennings said, adding that he suspected McConnell would make a public statement by Monday updating people on his health.

"So Scott, you can't get him on the phone right now?" Hunt pressed. "I mean, he could call in, in the next block. It's available if you want to."

Jennings joked with Hunt in response.

"I'll check in on it for you," Jennings said. "You know, I'm just I'm just a contributor here, but if you would like me to take on an additional role of booking producer. Absolutely. It's going to cost you."

'We don't want you!' Kentucky GOP voter demands Mitch McConnell 'give up' his office

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) remains hospitalized, and his condition is unknown — but to some of his Republican constituents, the 84-year-old lawmaker should no longer be in office regardless, MS NOW reported on Friday.

"There are growing calls from Democrats and Republicans alike for transparency," said anchor Jackie Alemany, noting that his office has given barely any details. After Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear issued a letter demanding information about McConnell's condition, Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) told the press he doesn't even know if McConnell is alive.

"And then there are the voters," said Alemany, playing a clip of reporter Alex Tabet talking to a local Kentucky Republican, Rebecca Messinger.

"I think that he should release a picture of himself or one of his aides should release a picture," said Messinger. "We have the right to know that he's even conscious." Furthermore, she added, "some of these phone conversations people are claiming to have, like Scott Jennings on CNN ... it's not ringing true for me."

Tabet followed up, "Why do you think we haven't seen those videos or those photographs or anything like that?"

"Arrogance," said Messinger, adding, "My goodness, your retirement is long overdue. Give up this fight. Give it up. We don't want you. You're not representing us well, so don't represent us at all."

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