Trump picks his NATO ambassador as Europe braces for WWIII

Donald Trump said he has picked former acting AG Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO at a time when key allies are making contingencies for World War III amid Kremlin threats over the war in Ukraine.

Trump said Whitaker, who he installed in the top-level Justice Department post amid the Mueller probe during his first term, would be a 'strong warrior and loyal Patriot.'

He said he would 'ensure the United States' interests are advanced and defended. Matt will strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.'

Trump has long been a critic of NATO and the way allies have lived up to burden-sharing commitments, and allies are busy gaming out how his return will impact global relationships.

Trump's announcement comes after days of incendiary rhetoric following reports that President Biden has authorized Ukraine to use long-range ATACAMs provided by the U.S. to strike deep inside Russia – something the Ukrainian's appear to have quickly acted on.

It sparked furious warnings from the Kremlin that it was 'fueling the fire' and from Kremlin allies that it could bring World War III.

That followed Russia's introduction of thousand of allied North Korean troops onto its territory as it seeks to push back Ukrainians holding seized territory inside its Kursk region.

Then, the administration confirmed it would send controversial antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine. The new anti-personnel landmines are more sensitive but also can lead to more civilian deaths.

Meanwhile, European nations are gearing up for an all-out war on the continent as Ukraine launched US-made missiles into Russia for the first time and Vladimir Putin officially lowered the threshold for Moscow to consider a nuclear strike.

Germany's foreign minister yesterday vowed her country 'will not be intimidated' by Putin, just one day after German media revealed the nation will transform into a NATO staging ground if the conflict to the East should escalate.

According to a 1,000-page document entitled 'Operationsplan Deutschland', Germany would reportedly host hundreds of thousands of troops from NATO countries and serve as a logistics hub for sending huge quantities of military equipment, food and medicine toward the front.

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A report by Der Spiegel in the summer said as many as 800,000 soldiers from the security bloc could be hosted by Germany as they transit to posts further East. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday signed off on an updated version of the Kremlin's nuclear doctrine that broadens the scope for Moscow to turn to its fearsome atomic arsenal.

The new document, first announced in September, allows Putin's strategic forces to deploy their devastating weapons if Russia or Belarus is threatened by a non-nuclear nation supported by a nuclear power.

Returning from a trip to South America late Tuesday, Biden would respond to shouted questions about long-range missiles or reports that Russia had been behind the cutting of undersea cables in the Baltic Sea in apparent sabotage.

Finland reminded its citizens of their 'national defense obligation' and recently launched a new information website, while Sweden laid out a detailed guide on how to seek shelter and what to do in case of a nuclear attack.

Trump, whose cabinet picks have run into controversy, praised Whitaker, a former Big Ten football player at the University of Iowa who served as a U.S. attorney in his home state.

'I have full confidence in Matt's ability to represent the United States with Strength, Integrity, and unwavering Dedication. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to promote PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, Freedom, and Prosperity around the World.'

Whitaker is a lawyer and Trump loyalist who does not have foreign policy experience. 

Whitaker held a key post overseeing the Russia probe – which Trump continues to brand a 'witch hunt' – during his first term.

Trump installed him as acting AG over the objection of Rod Rosenstein, who had appointed Robert Mueller as special counsel overseeing the probe. 

Democrats had voiced concerns that Whitaker, who didn't go through Senate confirmation, would shut down the probe.

He also served as chief of staff to Trump's first AG, Jeff Sessions, who infuriated Trump by recusing himself from the Russia probe. He denied interfering with the probe in testimony to congressional Democrats.

Whitaker has used frequent TV appearances on Fox News to blast the criminal cases against Trump, and has been involved in the the right-leaning America First Policy Institute.

Trump's announcement brought reminders of some of the oddities on his resume from years ago.

Before Trump installed him at the DOJ, his gigs included serving on the advisory board of World Patent Marketing.

Democrats accused the firm of running a patent scam with products such as the ‘Masculine Toilet’ for ‘well-endowed men.’

According to the firm, it featured a ‘specially designed bowl’ to help the men ‘avoid unwanted contact with porcelain or water.’

If plumbing is still stuck on his mind, Whitaker’s future residence (the post requires Senate confirmation – something he avoided as ‘acting’ AG) – his future digs likely have more than one bathroom that could use a refresh. Truman Hall, built by a chocolatier in the Flemish countryside in 1963 near NATO headquarters in Brussels, has a ‘sweeping lawn, towering cedars, English gardens and an herb harden,’ according to the U.S. Mission to NATO. ‘The interiors are humanly scaled with sensible arrangements and elegant proportions.’

The announcement comes as Trump's team is in the Senate trying to line up support for his controversial choice of former Rep. Matt Gaetz to lead the Justice Department despite an Ethics Committee probe into alleged sex trafficking allegations. 

Trump spent his first term blasting allies including Germany who failed to live up to spending commitments for defense. He also ordered a U.S. troop drawdown in Germany amid complaints about its defense spending – although the Biden administration has praised German efforts to send arms to Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion.

Early this year, Trump spoke about what he would encourage Russia to do to U.S. allies who don't meet their spending commitments while recounting a conversation with 'one of the presidents of a big country.'

'No, I would not protect you,' Trump said he told the foreign leader 'In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You got to pay. You got to pay your bills.'