Donald Trump says he would encourage Russia to attack Nato allies who pay too little Feb. 10th, 2024 theguardian.com Seeking a second presidency as the Republicans’ presumptive 2024 White House nominee, Donald Trump has said he would “encourage” Russia to attack any of the US’s Nato allies whom he considers to have not met their financial obligations. The White House described the remarks as “appalling and unhinged”. Trump made the statement on Saturday during a campaign rally in Conway, South Carolina, ahead of the state’s Republican presidential preference primary on 24 February. The former president has voiced misgivings about aid to Ukraine as it defends itself from the invasion launched by Russia in February 2022 – as well as to the existence of Nato, the 31-nation alliance which the US has committed to defending when necessary. Trump told European leaders that US ‘will never come to help you’ On Saturday, Trump claimed that during an unspecified Nato meeting he told a fellow head of state that the US under his leadership would not defend any countries who were “delinquent”. “One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, ‘Well, sir, if we don’t pay, and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’” Trump said, adding “I said, ‘You didn’t pay, you’re delinquent?’” “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.” White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, asked about Trump’s comments, said, “encouraging invasions of our closest allies by murderous regimes is appalling and unhinged – and it endangers American national security, global stability and our economy at home.” Nato countries agreed in 2014, after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, to halt the spending cuts they had made after the cold war and move toward spending 2% of their GDPs on defense by 2024. During his 2016 campaign, Trump alarmed western allies by warning that the United States, under his leadership, might abandon its Nato treaty commitments and only come to the defence of countries that meet the alliance’s 2% target. As of 2022, Nato reported that seven of what are now 31 Nato member countries were meeting that obligation – up from three in 2014. Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has spurred additional military spending by some Nato members. Trump’s comments come as Ukraine remains mired in its efforts to stave off Russia’s 2022 invasion and as Republicans in Congress have become increasingly skeptical of providing additional aid to the country as it struggles with stalled counteroffensives and weapons shortfalls. Trump’s remarks on Saturday quickly raised alarm among many political pundits in the US. “Sounds as if Trump is kind of encouraging Russia to attack our Nato allies,” David Corn – an MSNBC analyst and the Washington DC bureau chief of Mother Jones – said on X.
Good. Maybe those bum countries will get up off their ass and help pay for something for once. Especially those bum European countries who only want to mooch off the USA.
Putin declaring WAR on a NATO ally or Putin declaring WAR on NATO in secrecy with Trump... It will start WWIII...+100 thousand Americans will be killed even if America wins the war. At the minimum, NATO could turn its back on America if America is attacked by CHINA, North Korea, or Middle Eastern countries because of Trump's dangerous words if/when Trump becomes President again... A self-fulfilling prophecy. wrbtrader
Most knew Trump was a piece of shit in 2016 but millions of progressives and blacks couldn't bring themselves to vote for Hillary Clinton so Trump won. Most know Trump is a piece of shit in 2024 but millions of progressives and blacks wont be able to bring themselves to vote for Joe Biden so if Trump is The GOP nominee he will win again.
NATO issues official statement deeming Trump a threat to democracy and freedom. Nato chief says Trump remarks may put US and EU lives at risk Jens Stoltenberg says Nato ‘ready and able to defend all allies’, after Trump invited Russia to attack member countries https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...response-to-attack-as-trump-remarks-dismissed
You've laid out a pattern of stupidity considering they then bitch, protest after Trump policies on America becomes fact. In contrast, you mentioned or implied in another message post that you're hoping he's learned his lesson even though his commentary in the 2024 primaries clearly show he has not learned his lesson. Instead, he's more empowered to be more of an idiot as he plans to create more chaos for Americans while he continues giving high praise to dictators around the world (e.g. Putin, Xi, Jong, and a few other dictators)...dictators that want to destroy Democracy and your freedom. Someone has made their bed and must lie in it I wonder what Independents have said about Trump's recent commentary or praise of dictators around the world ??? wrbtrader
Those countries like Poland egging on a fight with Russia. Send your Polish troops into Ukraine and find out if the Russians will fight you? US troops, Polish troops and Romanian troops reported to be the Plan B of NATO. That is enter Ukraine to fight the Russians to save Ukraine and Zelensky. How many dead American soldiers are acceptable to Joe Biden? He does not care for sure. Once, Russia starts shooting down the F-16s over Ukraine, you know NATO will enter because that is the only way they can prevent Russia from winning outright.
Well that's all well and good, and I agree they do need to pay up... but the U.S. President, whoever it is, is required by treaty to defend any NATO state that gets attacked. So Trump should have chosen better words like "if countries aren't paying the required amount, and their European neighbors aren't willing to help them pay, then we will consider pulling out of the treaty because it's not fair to the US taxpayers." That might have been a tad more appropriate. Stuff like this, he's his own worst enemy. He can spell out a policy like that, and say that's where he stands if he's elected, but there's no need to just blab away with from the hip comments that are superfluous at best, and more than likely extremely detrimental to your campaign if you want to swing voters that are on the fence.