Its Not a Question of Friend or Enemy Trump Calls Putin a Competitor During Surprise NATO Press Conf
Speaking during an unscheduled press conference in Brussels on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin is not an "enemy" but rather a "competitor.", Trump, who was in Belgium for a North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO summit, cast his much-discussed relationship with Putin in a competitive light after a reporter asked Trump why he thinks the two leaders will get along ahead of their meeting in Finland next week. "He's a competitor. He's been very nice to me the times I've met him I've been nice to him," Trump said, echoing comments he made earlier in the week. "Somebody was saying, Is he an enemy?' He's not my enemy. Is he a friend? No, I don't know him well enough. But the couple of times that I've gotten to meet him, we got along very well  but ultimately, he's a competitor. He's representing Russia. I'm representing the United States. It's not a question of friend or enemy.", , Trump added, however, that a friendship between the two leaders could be possible were they to spend more time together. Trump  who has repeatedly denied allegations of collusion with Russia  has said on multiple occasions that he and Putin do not know each other well. "Hopefully, someday, maybe, he'll be a friend it could happen," Trump said. "But I just don't know him very well.", Trump also reaffirmed the U.S.' commitment to NATO and praised the treaty's strength at Thursday's press conference, despite a series of tense interactions earlier in the week.