Despite the fact that former President Trump had shaken the NATO alliance out of their complacency and reliance on the U.S. for their collective protection, the broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) gave President Biden a hero’s welcome. Together, they suggested Biden was the one “cementing the fractured American bond with NATO,” as NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt specifically put it.
“Meeting with fellow NATO ministers in Brussels today, President Biden declaring the military alliance and its core foundation of mutual defense are ‘rock solid.’ As he works to nurture a relationship derided by President Trump when he was in office,” Holt went on to tout.
A short time later, chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander boasted about how the other NATO leaders had welcomed Biden’s arrival:
President Biden's arrival here at NATO heralded by allies as a new chapter. Where former President Trump slammed the trans-Atlantic alliance as obsolete, Mr. Biden today touted the U.S.'s commitment to the group as a “sacred obligation.”
Over on ABC’s World News Tonight, anchor David Muir began the program in awe of the President “making global headlines late this afternoon on his eight-day foreign trip.” “Tonight, a NATO summit in Brussels and the President pushing that message that America is back,” he touted.
In reality, Trump had gotten NATO members to contribute more to the goal of the alliance: their mutual defense. Part of that was getting countries to live up to their agreed-upon contribution levels, which many weren’t doing.
But according to Muir, Biden was the better option for making NATO stronger:
And unlike his predecessor, who called NATO obsolete, President Biden calling attention to NATO’s Article V, that an attack on one is an attack on all. That NATO is “rock solid,” in his words, and a “sacred commitment.”
“Today in Brussels, President Biden standing firm with the leaders of NATO, an alliance his predecessor once called obsolete. Reaffirming America's commitment to the principle that an attack on one NATO country is an attack on them all,” added ABC chief White House correspondent Cecilia Vega.
For CBS’s part, chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett -- who filled in for anchor Norah O’Donnell -- opined about how Biden was “reaffirming America's role on the global stage.”
“At the NATO summit in Belgium today, the President called the military alliance critically important to U.S. interests, saying unity is NATO’s greatest strength,” he told viewers. “The cooperative tone of this meeting was in stark contrast to the previous four years. Former President Donald Trump frequently questioned NATO's relevance.”
And CBS chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes suggested Biden’s supposed superior handling of NATO prepared him for his Wednesday meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin:
Major, President Biden told me today he is going into this meeting with Putin with the full backing of his fellow transatlantic leaders. And he said he even asked them today what they want him to bring up when he sits down with the Russian authoritarian.
Meanwhile, NBC Nightly News became the first evening newscast to mention that Biden had allowed Putin to complete a pipeline to Germany. Of course, they didn’t mention how this weakened the NATO alliance by enriching Russia, making them more of a threat to border countries, and making NATO members dependent on Russia for energy.
This gushing for President Biden’s supposed superior NATO leadership was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Ford Motor Company on ABC, Amazon on CBS, and Consumer Cellular on NBC. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
June 14, 2021
6:32:40 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: Good evening and it's great to have you with us as we start another week together here. And we begin tonight with President Biden making global headlines late this afternoon on his eight-day foreign trip.
Tonight, a NATO summit in Brussels and the President pushing that message that America is back. And unlike his predecessor, who called NATO obsolete, President Biden calling attention to NATO’s Article V, that an attack on one is an attack on all. That NATO is “rock solid,” in his words, and a “sacred commitment.”
The leaders of the 30-nation alliance gathering for a group photo. Recognizing aggression from Russia, also, for the first time, acknowledging as a group the growing military threat from China. And agreeing to tackle new challenges from cyber warfare to disinformation campaigns to anti-missile defense.
Late today, President Biden addresses that high stakes meeting this week with Vladimir Putin. Our Cecilia Vega leading off the questions. The President, in his answer, calling Putin bright, tough, and a worthy adversary. But what the President then said about expectations. Will he draw red lines with Putin? Our chief White House correspondent Cecilia Vega leading us off with the President in Brussels.
[Cuts to video]
CECILIA VEGA: Today in Brussels, President Biden standing firm with the leaders of NATO, an alliance his predecessor once called obsolete. Reaffirming America's commitment to the principle that an attack on one NATO country is an attack on them all.
(…)
CBS Evening News
June 14, 2021
6:32:06 p.m. EasternMAJOR GARRETT: We begin tonight, with President Biden reaffirming America's role on the global stage. At the NATO summit in Belgium today, the President called the military alliance critically important to U.S. interests, saying unity is NATO’s greatest strength.
The cooperative tone of this meeting was in stark contrast to the previous four years. Former President Donald Trump frequently questioned NATO's relevant.
The NATO leaders took aim at China in forceful language calling it a “constant security challenge.”
Ahead of his face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, Mr. Biden said he is not looking for conflict but will respond if Russia continues its quote, unquote, “harmful activities.” The President said those include cyber-attacks, interference in U.S. elections, and human rights abuses.
There is a lot of new reporting tonight. CBS's chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes leads off our coverage in Brussels. Nancy, good evening to you.
NANCY CORDES: Major, President Biden told me today he is going into this meeting with Putin with the full backing of his fellow transatlantic leaders. And he said he even asked them today what they want him to bring up when he sits down with the Russian authoritarian.
(…)
NBC Nightly News
June 14, 2021
7:01:45 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Good evening, everyone. President Biden setting the stage for his face-to-face with Russia's Vladimir Putin later this week, warning tonight the U.S. will respond if Russia does not change its behavior.
The President with a stronger hand to play going into that meeting after cementing the fractured American bond with NATO. Meeting with fellow NATO ministers in Brussels today, President Biden declaring the military alliance and its core foundation of mutual defense are “rock solid.” As he works to nurture a relationship derided by President Trump when he was in office.
(…)
7:03:17 p.m. Eastern
PETER ALEXANDER: President Biden's arrival here at NATO heralded by allies as a new chapter. Where former President Trump slammed the trans-Atlantic alliance as obsolete, Mr. Biden today touted the U.S.'s commitment to the group as a “sacred obligation.”
(…)
