


Former President Donald Trump managed to distract attention from President Joe Biden—whose cognitive abilities face increased attention after a special counsel’s recent report—by attacking alleged non-paying NATO nations Saturday, saying he would encourage Russia “do whatever the hell they want” if other coalition members didn’t pay more, drawing immediate condemnation from foreign allies.
In a speech Saturday Trump criticized the U.S. financial support of non-paying NATO nations.
During a campaign rally in South Carolina on Saturday, Trump said he did not want to financially support NATO nations, even if they were attacked by Russia, “they said ‘if we don’t pay are you still going to protect us,’ I said absolutely not,” Trump said.
As in the past, Trump mischaracterizes the issue—there is no debt to NATO—and is likely referring to some NATO members not meeting their pledge to spend 2% of their GDP on defense spending, an ongoing internal dispute among NATO nations.
White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates described Trump’s comments as “appalling and unhinged” and said encouraging invasions of U.S. allies “endangers American national security, global stability and our economy at home.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told Reuters Trump’s comments put American and European soldiers at “increased risk,” and said “any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security.”
European Council President Charles Michel said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that Trump’s were “reckless” and only serve Russian President Vladimir Putin’s interests.
Thierry Breton, European Union internal market commissioner said during an LCI television interview Europe would be able to handle Trump as president again but added “we cannot flip a coin about our security every four years depending on this or that election, namely the U.S. presidential election.”
Once again Saturday,Trump criticized the billions of dollars being sent to help Ukraine fight Russia. Those citiques come as the Senate continues to debate a foreign aid package that would include funding for Ukraine. He said the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine was one that needs to end and promised he would “get it settled.” Instead of sending aid to nations, Trump suggested loaning countries money they would pay back.
The swift and widespread criticism of Trump’s comments managed to turn attention away from President Joe Biden, who has been under near constant scrutiny after Special Counsel Robert Hur released his report Thursday that refused to charge Biden over mishandled classified data, but was starkly critical of his memory issues.