Trump will encourage Russia to attack NATO allies who don’t pay up

At very least this is more blather from the world’s leading asshole. However, words like this sound more like a threat and, yes, continued collusion with Russia.

The MAGAs believe Trump speaks for them.

He sure speaks a lot. Can’t say it’s because of his age. It’s because he’s always been a con man and bully.

The Art of the Steal…

https://apple.news/AnJ4OVRHqQVusOvRT0x_7Pg

Trump says he would 'encourage' Russia to attack NATO allies who don’t pay up
White House blasts the former president's comments as “appalling and unhinged.”
February 11, 2024 | 9:18 am CET

Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said he would “encourage” Russia to attack any NATO member country that didn’t meet its financial obligations to the defense alliance, in remarks that the White House repudiated as “appalling and unhinged.”

There have been growing worries in Europe over the reliability of the decades-old U.S. commitment to European security — highlighted by the partisan gridlock in Washington over a crucial aid package to U.S. ally Ukraine — but Trump’s words are forcing Europeans to seriously consider an end to the transatlantic alliance.

“These are the words of a serious candidate for president so they should be treated seriously,” Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Zalewski told POLITICO. “If we do that, then it means a change to the logic of the U.S. presence in NATO. It is very worrying. He correctly calls on member countries to spend more on defense, but he also calls on Russia to attack. This is completely incomprehensible.”

Speaking at a campaign rally in South Carolina, Trump said that while president he told NATO leaders that he would “encourage [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want” to alliance members that are “delinquent” in meeting the group’s spending targets.

“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 recalled during the rally. “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.”

The remarks seem to suggest that Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, might not abide by NATO’s collective-defense clause for members that haven’t paid enough. The White House blasted the comments as endangering security and stability.

“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 a statement.

A POLITICO report last month revealed that Trump had told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in 2020 that the U.S. wouldn’t come to Europe’s defense if it was attacked. Trump alleged NATO countries subsequently spent “billions and billions” of dollars on their defenses in the wake of his threat — a claim that has not been substantiated.

Trump’s remarks come as the Biden administration and Republicans in the U.S. Congress remain at odds over a $95.3 billion military aid package, $60 billion of which is for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned on Saturday about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s belligerence and its implications for the Continent. “If Putin wins in Ukraine, there is no guarantee that Russian aggression will not spread to other countries,” Stoltenberg said in an interview with German newspaper Welt Am Sonntag.

“We have to prepare ourselves for a confrontation that could last decades,” Stoltenberg said.

Trump’s comments also show a misunderstanding of how NATO functions, There is no centralized budget that countries pay into. Rather, each country pays for its own defense; with an alliance-wide commitment to spend at least 2 percent of GDP by this year.

Eleven countries in the 31-member alliance will reach that target this year; Poland is NATO’s top spender, with a total of 4.2 percent of GDP going on the military.

NATO defense ministers are set to meet in Brussels this week, including U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

... THAT is how Trump got people to pay.

Pay yer fair share... The United States is NOT gonna continue
to protect you... Not sure how or why that YOU see this
as a bad issue.

This is NO mis-understanding.... Pay for your-own Defence.

#### Salty

Or we’ll sic Russia on ya???

Outstanding!

... And some of the nations PAYED RIGHT UP!

... See? ... President Trump GETS THINGS DONE! ...

#### Salty

Him and Tucker should have a circle jerk together, sorry ass fools both of them.

... And some of the nations PAYED RIGHT UP!

... See? ... President Trump GETS THINGS DONE! ...

#### Salty Originally Posted by Salty Again

As a result of Trump’s blackmail? You’re wrong again Salty.

Unless … you support Trumps continued collusion with Putin.

So you are in favor of the US spending billions protecting others who willfully fail to meet their own obligations? Noted.

This also then means you reject the Dems constant 'pay your fair share' mantra on 'the rich' right? As you don't believe in people paying their fair share, or even what they owe?

But, this lines up with the student loans being paid by others, too, so yeah.

"continued collusion"

How can you have 'continued' collusion when you never had collusion to begin with??

This was manufactured out of whole cloth, including fabricating evidence and reports. Even YEARS of investigation, whose sole purpose was to advance this false narrative, failed to come up with anything. Yet, here you are, blindly regurgitating the falsehoods you were fed. Begging the question, at what point are you going to wake up? or do you just like being fed constant falsehoods and blindly following them?

Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said he would “encourage” Russia to attack any NATO member country that didn’t meet its financial obligations to the defense alliance..." Originally Posted by Yssup Rider

Brother. That is absolutely nuts!

So you are in favor of the US spending billions protecting others who willfully fail to meet their own obligations Originally Posted by BigDog63

Yeah, I agree with you on that, and maybe Yssup does too. But his "encourage" comment, assuming it's true, is totally unhinged and not in our best interest. Trump needs to control his mouth, something he's historically been unable to do. This is an example of why I like a number of his policies but won't vote for him.

As a result of Trump’s blackmail? You’re wrong again Salty.

Unless … you support Trumps continued collusion with Putin. Originally Posted by Yssup Rider

What collusion? The one the libs spent trying to prove to no avail? Do you just throw shit against the wall and hope it sticks? Sad sad sad

What collusion? The one the libs spent trying to prove to no avail? Do you just throw shit against the wall and hope it sticks? Sad sad sad Originally Posted by oilfieldace

Sad? What's sad is how AG Barr handled that whole situation. And I guarantee he regrets the shit out of it.

Believe what Trump tells you MAGA folks. The rest of the world knows the truth.

"Oh the places the investigations will go."

You're supporting an international gangster. Jabba the Hutt's got nothin on Trump the Butt!


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAH!

"continued collusion"

How can you have 'continued' collusion when you never had collusion to begin with??

This was manufactured out of whole cloth, including fabricating evidence and reports. Even YEARS of investigation, whose sole purpose was to advance this false narrative, failed to come up with anything. Yet, here you are, blindly regurgitating the falsehoods you were fed. Begging the question, at what point are you going to wake up? or do you just like being fed constant falsehoods and blindly following them? Originally Posted by BigDog63

Sounds like the MAGA cult needs to read this ... thanks BigDog, for showing your fellow Trumpists the hypocrisy of their ways.

I read that as saying, “National Defense cost. How much are you willing to spend for freedom.

This is kinda like complaining about getting your electricity turned off because you didn’t pay your bill.

Originally Posted by Yssup Rider

We have one that kisses Netanyahu and Zalinski's ass, lol.