The White House has criticized Trump’s NATO threat as endangering American national security, global security and the American economy.
Trump said at his rally in South Carolina: “One of the presidents of a great country stood up and said, Well, sir, if we don’t pay and we get attacked by Russia, will you protect us? I said, didn’t you pay? Are you a criminal? He said yes. Let’s say it happened. No, I wouldn’t protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want.
Trump videos:
Trump says he would encourage Russia to attack NATO allies: I said I would not protect our NATO allies. In fact, I would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell it wants pic.twitter.com/ak1a3Mtwzq
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— Biden-Harris Headquarters (@BidenHQ) February 10, 2024
White House spokesman Andrew Bates responded to Trump’s threat: “President Biden has restored our alliances and made us stronger in the world because he knows that the first responsibility of every commander in chief is to keep the American people at safe and remain faithful to the values that unite us. Thanks to President Biden’s expert leadership, NATO is now the largest and most vital it has ever been. Encouraging invasions of our closest allies by murderous regimes is appalling and insane – and endangers America’s national security, global stability, and our domestic economy. Instead of calling for wars and promoting unbalanced chaos, President Biden will continue to strengthen American leadership and defend *for* our national security interests, not against them.”
The media tends to ignore Trump as a threat to global security, but what Trump said in South Carolina fits his vision of NATO. Trump has become more extreme since he left office, now threatening to let Russia invade a NATO ally and do nothing.
Trump’s comments must be music to Putin’s ears, because if the former president returns to the White House it means there will be no one to try to keep the NATO alliance strong in the United States. Putin and other authoritarians could lash out, and Trump would allow that to happen.
Instead of obsessing over Biden’s age, the media should be discussing Trump’s threat to destroy NATO.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a member of the White House press pool and a congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a bachelor’s degree in political science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and professional memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Political Science Association