In Washington, several Republicans criticized former President Donald Trump on Sunday for expressing hesitancy in defending NATO members from potential Russian attacks due to inadequate contributions to the defense alliance.
Chris Christie, a former Republican presidential candidate, underscored Trump’s unsuitability for the presidency during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
At a South Carolina rally, Trump raised concerns about overdue payments from specific NATO countries, advising the leader of a major country to permit Russia to act freely unless payments were fulfilled.
Trump’s remarks faced strong rebukes from the White House and other Western officials, characterizing them as “appalling and unhinged.”
Highlighting the persistent tension over NATO members failing to meet the 2% GDP defense spending target, only 11 out of 31 members have reached this threshold.
Nikki Haley, a potential 2024 Republican contender, emphasized the significance of not aligning with Russia and criticized Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
Disagreeing with Trump’s NATO stance, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham pointed out that Russia did not invade during Trump’s presidency, and he does not anticipate it if Trump were to assume the presidency again.
Senator Thom Tillis blamed Trump’s aides for not clarifying the U.S. commitment to defending any attacked NATO member, while Senator Rand Paul labeled Trump’s remarks as “a foolish statement.”
Some Republicans defended Trump, with Senator Marco Rubio noting the commonality of complaints about NATO contributions among U.S. presidents.
Jason Miller, a senior Trump campaign advisor, played down the Russia-related comment, highlighting the peace and prosperity during Trump’s presidency and criticizing Democrats and the media.
Democratic Senator Peter Welch accused Trump of normalizing aggressive behavior, emphasizing the need to take Trump’s statements seriously.