Trump Undercuts Leader of Britain After Nato Clash

C M Y K Nxxx,2018-07-13,A,001,Bs-4C,E2

Late Edition Today, sunny to partly cloudy, low humidity, high 83. Tonight, partly cloudy, low 70. Tomorrow, periodic clouds and sunshine, warm, high 86. Weather map appears on Page B16.

In Her Country, the President Criticizes the Prime Minister’s Brexit Plan

By STEPHEN CASTLE and JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS LONDON — President Trump would be a great prime minister. I put his brand of confrontational think he’s got what it takes and I and disruptive diplomacy on full think he’s got the right attitude to display Thursday, unsettling be a great prime minister.” NATO allies with a blustering per- Coming after his combative formance in Brussels and then, in performance in Brussels with a remarkable breach of protocol, leaders of the 28 other NATO na- publicly undercutting Prime Min- tions, the day amounted to a ister Theresa May of Britain in an global disruption tour unlike any- interview published hours after thing undertaken by any other re- landing in her country. cent American president. In the interview with The Sun, In Brussels on Thursday, Mr. Mr. Trump second-guessed Mrs. Trump said he supported NATO May’s handling of the main issue but seemed to suggest that the on her plate: how Britain should United States could leave if the al- cut ties to the European Union. He lies didn’t increase defense spend- cast doubt on whether he was will- ing. He claimed credit for pressing ing to negotiate a new trade deal members to pledge increases in between Britain and the United their military budgets, though States, and praised Mrs. May’s some denied any such promises DOUG MILLS/THE NEW YORK TIMES Conservative Party rival, Boris were made. The first lady, Melania Trump, President Trump, Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain and her husband, Philip May, on Thursday. Johnson, as a potentially great Mr. Trump did sign on to a prime minister. NATO plan to improve military The interview was published as readiness across the Continent, Mr. Trump and Mrs. May were and the allies agreed to take a wrapping up what appeared to be tough stance against Russia, par- Fire vs. Fury as F.B.I. Agent Defends His Actions a chummy dinner at Blenheim ticularly regarding its annexation U.S. AGAIN FIGHTS Palace — earlier, they had walked of Crimea. attacks that showcased the deep the now-gaping divide over the inside holding hands — and a day But the NATO meeting created partisan divide over the federal in- F.B.I. and Justice Department, ahead of the president’s sched- a picture of discord days before By NICHOLAS FANDOS Mr. Trump was scheduled to meet AT&T MEGA-DEAL vestigation into whether the said that Republicans, by launch- uled meeting with Queen Eliza- with President Vladimir V. Putin WASHINGTON — The embat- Trump campaign colluded with ing their own politically motivated beth II at Windsor Castle. There of Russia. tled F.B.I. agent who oversaw the Russia to influence the outcome of investigation of the investigators was no immediate response from The Sun’s interview with Mr. opening of the Russia investiga- the 2016 election. The perform- in an attempt to bolster Mr. the British government. Appeal of a Decision That Trump, conducted Wednesday in tion mounted an aggressive de- Trump, were ignoring an attack “Well I think the deal that she is Brussels, signaled a new twist on Encouraged Mergers fense of himself and the F.B.I. on by a hostile foreign power on striking is not what the people Thursday, rejecting accusations the “special relationship” between American democracy. voted on,” Mr. Trump said in the that he let his private political Britain and the United States. The The public comments were Mr. interview, speaking of the ap- views bias his official actions and White House went into damage By CECILIA KANG Strzok’s first since volumes of pri- proach Mrs. May is taking to Brit- labeling Republicans’ preoccupa- control mode after it was pub- and EDMUND LEE vate text messages between him ain’s exit from the European Un- tion with him “another victory ion, or Brexit, under which the lished on Thursday night. The federal government on notch in Putin’s belt.” and Ms. Page were disclosed in a “The President likes and re- report by the Justice Depart- British economy would effectively Thursday mounted a new effort to “Let me be clear, unequivocally spects Prime Minister May very ment’s inspector general that continue to be subject to many Eu- unravel AT&T’s deal with Time and under oath: Not once in my 26 ropean regulations. much,” Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Warner, a blockbuster merger found no evidence that their per- years of defending my nation did Speaking of Mr. Johnson, who Mr. Trump’s press secretary, said that has already started to re- sonal views had swayed the out- my personal opinions impact any resigned this week as foreign sec- in a statement. “As he said in his shape the media industry. come on the Hillary Clinton email official action I took,” the agent, retary in protest over Mrs. May’s interview with The Sun she ‘is a The deal was finalized a month case. The agent concluded his Peter Strzok, told House lawmak- Brexit strategy and who has long very good person’ and he ‘never ago, after a federal judge rejected opening remarks on Thursday ers investigating what Republi- been seen as likely to challenge said anything bad about her.’” the government’s argument that with a pointed broadside against cans say is evidence of rampant ERIN SCHAFF FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES her for her job, Mr. Trump said: The statement said Mr. Trump the $85.4 billion agreement would his antagonizers. bias at the top levels of the F.B.I. Peter Strzok of the F.B.I. at his “Well I am not pitting one against “is thankful for the wonderful wel- harm competition and con- “I understand we are living in a But in defending himself and his heated hearing on Thursday. the other. I’m just saying I think he Continued on Page A6 sumers. agency, Mr. Strzok had to weather political era in which insults and The combination of the two hours of blistering attacks by Re- insinuation often drown out hon- companies has created a media publicans, who accused him not ance by Republicans, echoing Mr. esty and integrity,” Mr. Strzok and telecommunications giant only of personal animus toward Trump’s own lines of attack, dem- said, continuing: “I have the ut- with television stations, a movie President Trump but also of bla- onstrated just how far many in the most respect for Congress’s over- As Trump Hits Ally of Cuomo studio, nearly 160 million wireless tant lying and moral misconduct party have moved since the days sight role, but I truly believe that customers and a nationwide satel- with a senior F.B.I. lawyer, Lisa when they were seen as the party today’s hearing is just another vic- lite television service, DirecTV. An Page. of law enforcement, deferential to tory notch in Putin’s belt and an- China, Detroit Is Found Guilty AT&T executive is already in It was a remarkable day of its power and prerogatives. other milestone in our enemies’ charge of Time Warner properties shouting matches and personal Democrats, on the other side of Continued on Page A15 Braces for Pain In Bid Scheme like HBO and the news network CNN. The judge’s decision had almost By ANA SWANSON By BENJAMIN WEISER immediately set off a round of in- Inside the Final Stretch and JESSE McKINLEY tense deal talks among many of DETROIT — China’s flag flies the biggest names in the industry, A SEAL team member high above Henniges Automotive, Alain E. Kaloyeros, a principal including Comcast and 21st Cen- described some of the alongside those of Germany, Mex- architect of Gov. Andrew M. Cuo- tury Fox. Many media executives, obstacles that rescuers ico, Canada and other nations, re- mo’s signature economic develop- including those at AT&T and Time faced to save 12 boys flecting the global nature of Michi- ment initiative, was convicted on 65-foot Warner, say mergers among their and their soccer gan’s auto industry and, increas- Thursday in a bid-rigging scheme rope line companies are necessary to better coach in a Thai cave. ingly, its reliance on Beijing. that steered hundreds of millions compete against tech giants like Henniges, which produces seal- of dollars in state contracts to fa- Netflix and Amazon. Steep ing products for cars, was bought vored companies in Buffalo and The Department of Justice filed downhill in 2015 by the Aviation Industry Syracuse. its notice of appeal on the same Corporation of China, a state- Dr. Kaloyeros, 62, was found day that Netflix beat out HBO for owned company that has snapped guilty of wire fraud and conspir- 30- to the most Emmy nominations — Sand up other investments in the De- acy in the fourth week of a federal ending the premium channel’s 17- 50-foot troit area, including the automo- trial in Manhattan that invited slide Water tive supplier Nexteer, which sits harsh scrutiny of Mr. Cuomo’s am- year run as the most-nominated Water outlet. and sand just across Interstate 75 from bitious plan to revitalize upstate The Justice Department de- Henniges. Over the past several and western New York, known as clined to comment. But experts Note: Diagram shows approximate location and shape of features in the cave. THE NEW YORK TIMES years, Beijing has steadily the Buffalo Billion. say the appeal sends a clear signal pumped billions of dollars’ worth The verdict was immediately that the government, despite its of investment into Michigan, buy- seized on by the governor’s poli- court loss, will be aggressive on ing crumbling factories, building tical rivals to criticize what they deals between companies with new ones and supporting more say has been a culture of corrup- complementary businesses, Intricate Rescue: ‘I Still Can’t Believe It Worked’ than 10,000 jobs in the state. tion enabled by Mr. Cuomo; they known as vertical mergers. Imme- But where Michigan sees an also pointed to a conviction of one boys or their coach would soon he backtracked, going deeper into diately after the AT&T-Time economic partner, President of the governor’s former top aides, emerge from the flooded tunnels. the cave to search for the rope, be- Warner merger was approved last This article is by Hannah Beech, Trump sees an “economic enemy” Joseph Percoco, who was found month, Comcast entered a bidding Richard C. Paddock and Muktita “Fish on,” the rescuers sig- fore the rescue could resume. — one intent on overtaking Amer- guilty earlier this year of accept- war with the Walt Disney Com- Suhartono. naled, recalled Maj. Charles At last, the survivor got ica’s competitive edge by stealing ing more than $300,000 in bribes pany for the entertainment assets MAE SAI, Thailand — Improb- Hodges of the United States Air through, safely. technology, trade secrets and jobs from executives working for two of 21st Century Fox. ably enough, most of the escapes Force, mission commander for the It was a frightening moment in from domestic companies. As Mr. companies with state business. “If they had not appealed it, it went flawlessly. American team on site. what had been a surprisingly Trump tries to punish China with Mr. Cuomo, who has not been would have been a green light for But on trip No. 11, to save one of Fifteen minutes went by. Then smooth rescue of the soccer team, tariffs and other restrictions, accused by prosecutors of any vertical mergers to proceed the last soccer teammates stuck 60. Then 90. the Wild Boars, who had survived Michigan is caught in the cross wrongdoing, said after the verdict apace,” said Andrew J. Schwartz- for 18 days deep inside the cave, As the rescuers waited anx- the murky darkness of Thailand’s hairs, with its ability to remain that he had “no tolerance for those man of the Georgetown Univer- something went dangerously iously, a diver navigating the 11th Tham Luang Cave, sometimes by competitive and develop emerg- who seek to defraud the system to sity Law Center. wrong. teammate through the underwa- licking water off the cold lime- ing technologies like autonomous advance their own personal inter- AT&T’s general counsel, David Rescuers inside an under- ter maze lost hold of the guide stone walls. vehicles, robotics and artificial in- ests. Anyone who has committed McAtee, expressed confidence ground chamber felt a tug on the rope. With visibility near zero, he “The whole world was watch- telligence highly dependent on such an egregious act should be Continued on Page A16 rope — the sign that one of the 12 couldn’t find the line again. Slowly, Continued on Page A10 Continued on Page A16 Continued on Page A19

NATIONAL A12-16 NEW YORK A17-19 FEMA Outlines Its Mistakes Senator’s Speed Camera Push An assessment by the agency of its A lawmaker with rare expertise on the performance in the 2017 storm season topic urges a special Senate session to finds major shortcomings in its prepa- protect the school zone cameras. rations for an emergency. PAGE A14 About New York. PAGE A17

INTERNATIONAL A4-11 War on Poverty ‘Largely Over’ BUSINESS DAY B1-7 SPORTSFRIDAY B8-14 WEEKEND ARTS C1-20 The Council of Economic Advisers From a Black Hole to Antarctica makes the case for adding work re- Some Winning Mudders Serena Williams in the Final The Art of an Outsider Astronomers followed a subatomic quirements to programs like Medicaid Shopping for an S.U.V.? Consider the Ten and a half months after giving birth The work of David Wojnarowicz, who particle to gather clues about where and food stamps. PAGE A14 winners of Mudfest, which tests vehi- to her daughter, Serena Williams will spoke out during the AIDS crisis, is in cosmic rays come from. PAGE A8 cles on the road and off. PAGE B3 play for a Grand Slam title after reach- three shows this summer. Above, “Unti- Reopening 1955 Murder Case ing the final of Wimbledon. PAGE B8 tled (Time and Money).” PAGE C13 Israel and Russia Reach Deal The death of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Trade Talks Falter Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of boy, remains among the starkest and Concern is growing that the president EDITORIAL, OP-ED A20-21 Israel said Russia’s president agreed to most searing examples of racial vio- has no clear strategy to resolve a trade restrain Iran in Syria. PAGE A9 lence in the American South. PAGE A15 war with China. PAGE B5 Paul Krugman PAGE A21 U(D54G1D)y+$!:!,!=!{