President Donald Trump reportedly mocked up a £300 billion NATO invoice for Germany's Angela Merkel, handing it to her during their meeting, according to the U.K.'s Independent, but Merkel "ignored the provocation" and "outrageous" move.
"The concept behind putting out such demands is to intimidate the other side, but the chancellor took it calmly and will not respond to such provocations," a German source told the U.K.'s "The Sunday Times."
The £300 billion total was reportedly estimated by Trump administration officials at his behest to be how much Germany has underspent on defense for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, including interest of £50 billion over the past 12 years.
The report comes more than a week after President Trump slammed media reports on Twitter as "fake news" over his "GREAT meeting" with Merkel.
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen issued a statement disavowing the U.S. president's claim and tweet.
"There is no debt account at Nato," Von der Leyer said, per the Independent.
"Defense spending also goes into U.N. peacekeeping missions, into our European missions, and into our contribution to the fight against ISIS terrorism."
Former U.S. ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder tweeted Sunday, rehashing his past tweetstorm on the topic.
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