Republicans Criticize Trump for NATO Ally Threat

On Sunday, a few Republicans who supported former President Donald Trump expressed their displeasure with his statement that if NATO members were not making enough contributions to the defense alliance, he would not want to defend them against a Russian invasion.

Let’s read the news and find out more.

Republicans Criticize Trump for NATO Ally Threat

At a Saturday political event in South Carolina, Trump criticized what he described as “delinquent” payments by several NATO countries and related it to an alleged previous discussion he had with the leader of “a big country” over a Russian strike on such nations.

During the event, Trump warned NATO, Says He’d Let Russia Do as They Please.

Trump stated that he informed the leader (kept anonymous), “No, I would not protect you. In fact I would encourage them (Russia) to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay.”

This statement was disagreed upon by many Republicans and aimed to criticize Trump.

In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” former Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie stated, “This is why I’ve been saying for a long time that he’s unfit to be president of the United States.”

The top Western officials, as well as the White House, also criticized the remarks by calling them “appalling and unhinged.”

Also, read “Senate Confronts Challenge with Ukraine Aid Legislation.”

Over the years, tensions have existed between the United States, whose armed forces form the core alliance’s military power, and several of NATO’s 31 members over their failure to fulfill a defense spending objective of at least 2% of its gross domestic product.

According to NATO estimates, just eleven members are making the desired amount of spending.

In a quick hallway interview with Reuters, Trump’s close ally, Republican senator Lindsey Graham, disagreed with how the president expressed himself, referring to his remarks to NATO. Graham went on to say: “Russia didn’t invade anybody when he was president, and if he’s president again, they won’t.”

According to Politico, Republican Senator Thom Tillis accused Trump’s aides of neglecting to inform the former president that the US is obligated as a NATO member to protect any member of the alliance that comes under attack.

Senator Rand Paul, a Republican, also described Trump’s comments as a “stupid thing to say.”

Also, read “Senate Stops Border Plan, Aid for Ukraine, Israel Likely Pass.”

Some Republicans stood up for Trump on a day when the Senate was debating President Joe Biden’s request for emergency aid to help Ukraine fight against a nearly two-year-old Russian invasion and Israel in its battle with Hamas in Gaza.

Senator Marco Rubio stated in an interview with CNN, “Virtually every American president at some point, in some way, has complained about other countries in NATO not doing enough. Trump’s just the first one to express it in these terms. But I have zero concern because he’s been president before.”

“Democrat and media pearl-clutchers seem to have forgotten that we had four years of peace and prosperity under President Trump,” stated senior Trump campaign advisor Jason Miller.

Senator Peter Welch, a Democrat, told Reuters on Capitol Hill: Trump “normalizes belligerent behavior. But in fact, he means it.”

The sole rival to compete against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 is the former governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley. She stated: “The last thing we ever want to do is side with Russia.”

Also, read “Trump Likely to Win Nevada Delegates Following Haley’s Defeat.”

During an interview with CBS’s “Face the Nation,” she went on to say, “Don’t take the side of someone who has gone and invaded a country and half a million people have died or been wounded because of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin” about his conflict with Ukraine.

Many Republicans shared their displeasure with the remarks made by Trump and strongly condemned him.