In a report from the Associated Press, the Head of NATO's Military Alliance, General Jens Stoltenberg, warned on Sunday that Trump was placing both United States Troops and other allies at risk by stating that Russia should be able to do "Whatever the hell they want" in regards to members of NATO who don't meet their defense spending targets.
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 08: Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference held at Mar-a-Lago on February 08, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida. Mr. Trump spoke as the United States Supreme Court hears oral arguments over Trump’s ballot eligibility under the 14th Amendment.
In a statement of his own Stoltenberg said: "Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk."
Trump's Statement
Trump's words were stated while the former President spoke at a Conway, South Carolina rally. Before making his statement, Trump recounted a conversation with an unnamed NATO member where he indicated he would "encourage" Russia to act freely with allies labeled as "delinquent." Trump's precise words were: "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 gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills."
The Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, also shared his thoughts regarding Trump's statement. The former President's statement brought up a valid concern on whether the United States would show "full solidarity with other NATO countries in this confrontation that promises to last for a long time with Russia." Tusk's statement continued with "We have a hot war at our border. We must realize that the EU cannot be an economic and civilizational giant and a dwarf when it comes to defense, because the world has changed."
However, Stoltenberg seemingly remains confident that the United States will remain a strong ally to NATO regardless of who wins the upcoming election this November. During Trump's Presidency Stoltenberg was praised for his diplomatic ability to keep NATO united.
The statement drew the ire of GOP presidential hopeful NIkki Haley as well. HNGN recently reported that during an interview with CBS News, Haley criticized the former president for developing a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that Trump was "embracing a thug who kills his opponents." Haley emphasized the importance of NATO member countries contributing more financially but stressed that siding with Putin, who is known for eliminating his adversaries, would be a grave error.
