President Trump has again pounded German Chancellor Angela Merkel over a natural-gas pipeline deal with Russia. And rightfully so.

“[Vladimir] Putin has tried to create other alternative pipelines that would essentially tie up eastern European countries, make them dependent on Russia, just the way he did [with] Ukraine when he shut off their fuel in the middle of a cold winter,” Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield (Ret.) told FOX Business’ David Asman.

Germany is investing as much as $12 billion and will depend upon the Russians for between 50 percent to 70 percent of its energy needs under the agreement. This, while asking the American taxpayer to foot the bill for defending Germany against--you guessed it--the Russians. And the money the Germans give to the Russians for fuel will allow Putin to buy more military hardware to, yep, threaten the Germans.

By the way, America is poised to become the No. 1 oil producer in the world next year. Why not spend some of that German cash here?

During the NATO summit this week, Trump called the arrangement with Russia "inappropriate." He stepped up his criticism during a press conference with British Prime Minister May on Friday, stating, “I think it’s a horrible thing that Germany’s doing.” Trump says Merkel surrenders Germany's "strength" to the Russians and "kind of hands over your country" to Putin.

Germany is one of America's oldest allies and is the wealthiest country in the European Union. Yet it refuses to pony up for its protection while making outrageous energy deals with the enemy, and continues to reject fair trade deals with the U.S. What gives?

Aren't you glad we have a president who calls these freeloaders out for a change? I know I am.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. 

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