VIDEO VAULT From the White House, Trump's Global Gamble

The White House is back to full speed following President Donald Trump’s return from the NATO summit, with international diplomacy, military alliances and even the president’s aircraft dominating conversation in Washington.

South Shore Press Managing Editor Stefan Mychajliw spoke with South Shore Press White House Correspondent Neil McCabe outside the White House about the administration’s latest foreign policy moves, the significance of the NATO summit and speculation surrounding the president’s use of a new Air Force One aircraft.

Stefan Mychajliw: Well, it seems like D.C. has a little bit more people now that the commander in chief is back home, correct?

Neil McCabe: "Yeah, the president took like something like fourteen hundred staffers with him. And so, yeah, this place was a ghost town. But, you know, it was very important meetings. They had the defense minister NATO meetings, say, two weeks ago. And this is the actual head of state meetings.

"And it's interesting because it was held in Ankara. The president said he was going to blow off the meeting because he's not really happy with his NATO allies, but out of respect for President Erdogan of Turkey, who he calls a friend, he showed up.

"That kind of speaks to President Donald J. Trump, the New York City developer who relies on personal relationships and handshakes. That's really how he's running his presidency. It's how he did it in 45, and it's how he does it in 47."

Stefan Mychajliw: What's the big NATO takeaway from this trip, Neil?

Neil McCabe: "I thought it was a huge deal that the president said he would lift the sanctions and take Syria off the terrorist list. Syria's been on the terrorist watch list since 1979.

"I think the other big takeaway was that President Trump said he would reintegrate Turkey into the F-35 project so Turkey can receive the aircraft it ordered.

"In 2019, the Trump administration removed Turkey from the program after it purchased the Russian S-400 air defense system. Now he's bringing them back in. It's all based on personal relationships. He likes Erdogan, he trusts Erdogan, and that's it.

"You even see that inside the administration. The president will go with someone he likes and trusts over somebody who maybe has more experience or more competence. In 45 he relied more on establishment figures. He believes that's a lesson learned for 47."

Stefan Mychajliw: Speaking of aircraft, are you hearing anything about the new Air Force One the president flew to NATO?

Neil McCabe: "It's certainly a more masculine paint scheme. The Biden administration had planned to scrap it because they said it affected the aircraft's cooling systems, but that new color scheme is back.

"It was interesting that the president actually swapped planes and flew home on what's being called the Qatari aircraft. People are saying the original Air Force One had more sophisticated defensive systems that made it better suited for flying in and out of a combat zone as tensions with Iran escalated.

"That's all rumor intelligence on why he swapped planes, but that's what people around Washington are talking about."