Donald Trump, who is seeking a second term as the Republican candidate for the White House in 2024, will attack any of the US’ North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies that he believes are not meeting their financial obligations. He said he would “encourage” Russia to do so.
President Trump made the remarks Saturday at a campaign rally in Conway, South Carolina, ahead of the state’s Republican presidential primary on February 24.
The former president expressed concerns about aid to Ukraine defending itself from the invasion launched by Russia in February 2022, and about the existence of NATO, a 31-nation alliance that the United States is committed to defending if necessary. has been expressed.
On Saturday, President Trump claimed to have told fellow heads of state during an unspecified North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting that the United States under his leadership would not protect “delinquent” countries.
“One of the presidents of a great power stood up and said, ‘So if we don’t pay and the Russians attack us, will you protect us?'” Trump said. ” he added. Are you in arrears even though you haven’t paid? ”
“No, I won’t protect you. In fact, I’d encourage them to do whatever they want to do. You have to pay. You have to pay the bills.”
President Trump’s remarks immediately caused alarm among many political commentators in the United States, although some doubted whether the conversation in question had actually taken place.
“It sounds as if President Trump is encouraging Russia to attack NATO allies.” david corn – MSNBC analyst and Mother Jones Washington DC bureau chief told X.
On the other hand, conservative political commentators alyssa farrah griffin Trump’s comments were “music” to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ears, he said.
President Trump on Saturday also celebrated the recent passage of Congressional legislation aimed at addressing the migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill was supported by Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, who vowed on his first day back in the Oval Office if reelected that he would carry out a “massive deportation operation.”
Trump is doing well in opinion polls against Biden, who defeated the former president in the 2020 election. Nevertheless, he is facing more than 90 criminal charges.
The charges, contained in four separate indictments spanning various jurisdictions, include attempting to overturn the results of a defeated election, illegally keeping government secrets after taking office, and pornography alleging having sexual relations. He alleges that he paid illegal hush money to the actor. Encounter with Trump.
Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
