US President Trump
Photo: AP
Trump says Jerusalem embassy cost under $500K
At a press conference, US President Trump says the US will spend less than half a million dollars on moving its embassy to Jerusalem, instead of a planned $1 billion; he also reiterated his stance on Iran, saying 'you can bank on' him not letting it develop nukes.
US President Donald Trump said Friday he rejected a plan to spend $1 billion on the new US Embassy in Jerusalem and plans to do it for less than half a million dollars instead.
He said he "may go" to the embassy opening May 14.
At a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Trump said he had started signing his name to a proposal when he noticed the eye-popping $1 billion figure. He says he called it off.
German Chancellor Merkel (L) and US President Trump (Photo: AFP)
Trump noted US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told him it could be done for a mere $150,000, but added he didn't want to go that low and approved spending $300,000 or $400,000 instead.
The embassy is moving from Tel Aviv. Rather than build a new building, the US is retrofitting a small part of an existing American consular facility so the embassy can open quickly.
Aside from leading the move to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move its embassy there, the US has also taken Israel's stance on Iran—emphasizing the importance of deterring the Islamic Republic away from seeking nuclear capabilities.
At the conference, the president was asked if he would use military force to reign in Iran's nuclear program, if the US drops out of the international nuclear deal with Iran.
(Photo: Reuters)
Trump said he won't discuss the use of military force, but he says: "They are not going to be doing nuclear weapons. You can bank on it."
He then called on NATO allies to increase their defense spending, pressing European nations to spend at least two percent of their GDP on defense—as he has urged since his campaign.
