President Donald Trump took questions from the press on Thursday and finally spoke publicly about the Russian attack on Poland on Tuesday night.
A reporter asked Trump to comment on the “drone incursion into Poland.”
“It could have been a mistake, but regardless, I’m not happy about anything having to do with that whole situation, but hopefully it’s going to come to an end,” Trump said, apparently letting Vladimir Putin off the hook for the unprecedented attack.
Russia’s attack on Poland included some 19 drone incursions into Polish airspace, four of which were shot down. The attack marked the first time in NATO history that it fired shots to defend NATO territory.
Trump’s only prior comment on the attack was posting a cryptic message to Truth Social on Wednesday that read, “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!”
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker put out a more concrete statement on Wednesday as well, vowing that the U.S. “will defend every inch of NATO territory.”
NATO invoked Article 4 of the treaty following the Russian attacks on Poland, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday, “This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II.” Trump reportedly called the president of Poland and vowed support.
“Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down,” Tusk added on social media. “I am in constant communication with the Secretary General of NATO and our allies.”
NATO’s Article 4 is a precursor to larger military action and reads, “The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened.”
Watch the clip above via Fox News.
