The White House condemned Donald Trump on Saturday for saying he would “encourage” Russia to attack NATO countries that aren’t paying their bills.
“Thanks to President Biden’s experienced 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 unhinged – and it endangers American national security, global stability, and our economy at home,” White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in the statement.
At a rally in Conway, South Carolina earlier on Saturday, Trump said he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to any NATO member country that doesn’t meet spending guidelines on defense—a clear signal that he does not plan to uphold NATO’s commitment to defend allies if one is under attack.
“NATO was busted until I came along. I said, ‘Everybody’s going to pay.’ They said, ‘Well, if we don’t pay are you still going to protect us?’ I said, ‘Absolutely not.’ They couldn’t believe the answer,” Trump said.
“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?’ I said, ‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’ He said, ‘Yes, let’s say that happened.’ No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want,” Trump continued.
“You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills,” Trump, notorious for not paying his bills, said.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Sunday that Trump’s comments put European and American soldiers at risk, CNN reported.
“Any attack on NATO will be met with a united and forceful response,” Stoltenberg said in a statement. “Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US, and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk.”
