Trump Meeting with 'Obsolete' NATO
CHURCH: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. U.S. President Donald Trump is in Brussels for a variety of meetings, but the headliner is a NATO summit just hours from now. As a candidate, Mr. Trump called the alliance obsolete, eventually walking that back as president. Before the summit, he will also sit down with the new French president and in about half an hour, Mr. Trump will meet with European Council leaders. Now, Phil Black joins us live from Brussels for a preview. So Phil, what are the expectations? What does President Trump want to see come out of this NATO summit, and what about NATO leaders? What do they want?</s>PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, there have been two key concerns often expressed by President Trump in the lead-up to this, criticisms really. His belief that many NATO members are not paying their way, they're not spending enough on defense, and that the organization as a whole, the alliance as a whole is not doing enough to fight terrorism. So those will be the two key issues discussed over the dinner that leaders will be holding tonight, and they'll be trying to thrash out some sort of measures that could in some way satisfy President Trump's concerns. The alliance is responding to those concerns. And what they hope in response is that President Trump will really move a long way from his criticism of the organization as being elite. He has backtracked on that slightly. But what they want is President Trump to adopt a far more traditional American policy towards the alliance, one that backs it completely, unequivocally, and in particular one that speaks very strongly about the idea of collective defense, which is what the alliance is based upon, that is an attack on one is an attack on all. Because they believe that is absolutely crucial to the alliance, having the ability to deter people from attacking any member state.</s>CHURCH: So, Phil, as we mentioned during the election campaign, Mr. Trump called NATO obsolete. He backpedaled on that as we mentioned. He's criticized other member nations for not paying their way. So as a result of that, just how awkward or even confrontational could this summit be as a result of those comments?</s>BLACK: Well, it all comes down to Mr. Trump really in the end. The summit is being designed in such a way that there's no doubt to impress and to appease his concerns. In the lead-up to the actual meeting over dinner tonight, there will be -- there will be some ceremony. First the opening of the new, very impressive NATO headquarters. There will be a commemoration for a number of memorials including a 9/11 memorial that will actually include a part of the World Trade Center. What it does is also mark the one and only time that NATO, as an alliance, has invoked its collective defense principle. That was following the 9/11 attacks. And then of course over dinner they will have those substantive conversations about just what the alliance can do in order to step in line with Mr. Trump's concerns. If that satisfies the American president, then all will go well. It depends upon to what degree Mr. Trump is willing to continue to push those concerns, perhaps even harangue the other member states. If he is satisfied and walks away, then it will be seen to be a success. The idea today is for this to be a demonstration of solidarity and unity because NATO believes that's ultimately where its strength comes from.</s>CHURCH: All right. And I know you, Phil Black, you'll be watching very closely to see the outcome there. Joining us with a live report from Brussels, where it is 9.45 in the morning. Many thanks. Well, there has been intense scrutiny of Donald Trump on his first foreign trip as U.S. President, but his normally publicity-shy wife is also getting a lot of attention, and Melania Trump seems to be holding her own.</s>KATE BENNETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Without actually saying anything publicly, the first lady has been a hit with international audiences, even joking with the pope, who earlier today during a visit to the Vatican teased Melania about feeding her husband too many Slovenian sweets.</s>POPE FRANCIS: What do you give him to eat?</s>MELANIA TRUMP, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: Pizza.</s>BENNETT: She also ventured solo in Rome to a children's hospital where she made a friendly greeting to the children in Italian. Hugging the kids, making drawings, even posing for a few selfies, the first lady connected with one young boy, whom she learned hours later was notified that doctors had located a donor for the heart transplant he needs. Melania tweeting the news. The trip has been the most the world has seen of the first lady in consecutive days since her husband took office, and Melania has made sure she's looking her best. The White House telling CNN her strategy was to pack a separate bag for each stop on the trip, taking every event on this five-city, nine- day journey as a separate focus. Every outfit from the demure black jumpsuit she arrived wearing in Saudi Arabia to her white ensembles in Israel, where white is considered by some to be a holy color, a symbol of peace and purity, to the black lace dress by Italian designers Dolce & Gabbana that she wore to greet the pope. Everything was planned down to her Manolo Blahnik high heels. She and Ivanka Trump wearing the required black formal wear long sleeves and head veil for their audience with the pontiff. Part of the protocol she likely studied when she met with State Department officials in preparation for this trip. But it hasn't all been perfect. There was that hand swat her round the world, the moment on the tarmac in Tel Aviv, when the president crowding her out on the red carpet, reached back for Melania's hand and she didn't take it. That clip going viral, even noticed by President Obama's former White House photographer, Pete Souza, who was quick to troll the moment, posting his own image of Barack and Michelle on his Instagram page clearly holding hands.</s>CHURCH: CNN White House reporter Kate Bennett with that report. Next on CNN NEWSROOM, black arm bands and a moment of silence. Then this happened. How Manchester United is helping fans heal their wounded city.