In our news wrap Sunday, Trump’s remarks about encouraging Russian aggression against NATO countries are drawing fire from allies around the world, Defense Secretary Austin has been hospitalized again, Ukraine says it shot down a mass barrage of Russian drone attacks, and Biden told Israel’s Netanyahu that a ground assault on Rafah should not proceed without a “credible” plan to protect civilians.
Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.
John Yang: Good evening. I'm John Yang. Once again, former President Donald Trump's remarks at a campaign speech are drawing fire from both allies around the world and rivals in the United States. Yesterday in South Carolina, Trump said he told NATO countries that as President, he would encourage Russian aggression if they don't pay what they owe the alliance.
Donald Trump, U.S. Republican Presidential Candidate: And they said you got to pay up. They asked me that question. One of the presidents of a big country stood up said, well, sir, if we don't pay and we're attacked by Russia, will you protect us? I said you didn't pay your delinquent. He said yes. Let's say that happened. No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You got to pay. You got to pay your bills.
John Yang: The head of NATO said Trump's comments put U.S. and European forces risk. The White House called his words appalling and unhinged. Nikki Haley Trump's top remaining Republican rival fired back on CBS Face the Nation.
Nikki Haley, U.S. Republican Presidential Candidate: Don't take the side of a thug who kills his opponents, don't take the side of someone who has gone in and invaded a country and half a million people have died or been wounded because of Putin. Now, we do want NATO allies to pull their weight. But there are ways you can do that without sitting there and telling Russia have your way with these countries. That's not what we want.
John Yang: Trump also mocked Haley's husband for not campaigning with her. Michael Haley is actually serving in the Horn of Africa with the South Carolina Army National Guard. Today Nikki Haley said it's part of Trump's pattern of disparaging U.S. troops and their families. And we are just learning that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is back at Walter Reed Medical Center for the Pentagon says our symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue. Austin had been in Walter Reed last month for treatment of prostate cancer. As a bill with money for Ukraine cleared a key hurdle in the Senate today, Kyiv said it shot down more than 40 Russian drones that had been launched across the country in a barrage that lasted nearly six hours, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy named a new commander of ground forces in hopes of spurring frontline progress. It's Oleksandr Pavliuk, who had been first deputy defense minister. President Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today that an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah should not go ahead without a credible plan to protect the more than 1 million civilians trapped there. It came to leaders first call since Mr. Biden called Israel's campaign in Gaza over the top. On ABC's this week before the two leaders spoke, Netanyahu defended Israel's efforts to minimize civilian casualties.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister: We've brought down the civilian to terrorists casualties, the ratio down below one to one which is considerably less than in any other theater of similar warfare and we're going to do more. We're going to provide —
Man: Wait a minute. You're saying it's only been one civilian that's been killed for one Hamas terrorist in Gaza?
Benjamin Netanyahu: Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying.John Yang: Netanyahu also said that enough of the remaining Israeli hostages are still alive to justify the war despite the high cost in human lives. In the Philippines, the death toll in a landslide last week now stands at 54. More bodies were recovered from the mud and the hard hit Southern Village of Masara. Rescue efforts have been hampered by heavy rain and the threat of more landslides. More than 1100 families have been evacuated. 63 people are still missing. Still to come on PBS News Weekend, how cases of a sexually transmitted infection that was nearly eradicated decades ago are hitting record numbers. And what one writer learned working in his family's Chinese restaurant.