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Washington
CNN
—
President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that such remarks came after former President Donald Trump said he would encourage Russia to invade countries that are not meeting its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) obligations. He criticized the move as tantamount to capitulating to President Putin.
The comments, Biden’s latest criticism of Trump from the White House, are some of the harshest criticism yet of his potential foreign policy rival.
Speaking at a rally in South Carolina on Saturday, President Trump said he would encourage Russia to do “whatever it takes” for NATO members that don’t meet defense spending guidelines. Biden said the comments sent a “dangerous and shocking” signal.
“Can you imagine a former president of the United States saying something like that?” Biden asked incredulously from the state cafeteria. “The whole world heard it. The worst part is that he meant it.”
Biden began his speech by encouraging the House to vote “immediately” on the $95 billion additional aid package passed by the Senate. This additional assistance package will provide U.S. partners and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region. Assistance to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The Senate package would have allocated more than $60 billion to Ukraine as it prepares to mark the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Previous attempts to pass an aid package combined with a border security bill stalled after President Trump voiced opposition.
President Trump’s comments immediately caused shockwaves not only in U.S. foreign policy circles but also in NATO allies who have been watching with alarm as Russia moves forward with its invasion of Ukraine.
The remarks were particularly galling for Biden, who has spent much of his career working on issues related to transatlantic security. According to sources, the president was taken aback when he heard this comment afterwards. He later released a statement through his campaign condemning the sentiment.
The White House criticized President Trump immediately after his remarks.
“Encouraging a brutal regime to invade its closest ally is appalling and inexcusable, and threatens the national security of the United States and the world,” White House Press Secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement Saturday. It puts the stability of the country and the domestic economy at risk.”
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Former President Donald Trump takes the stage at the Get Out The Vote rally at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, on February 10.
But Biden’s criticism of Trump by the White House went a step further. Mr Biden forcefully sought to rebut questions about US commitment to his allies in a speech that mentioned Mr Trump by name at least six times.
“No president in our nation’s history has ever bowed to a Russian dictator,” Biden continued. “Let me be as clear as possible: I never meant that. Just to be clear, that’s stupid. It’s embarrassing. It’s dangerous. It’s un-American.”
On Tuesday, Mr. Biden spent a significant portion of his speech criticizing Mr. Trump for his support for Ukraine and comments that undermined long-standing American values.
“When America speaks, it means something. When we make a promise, we keep it, and NATO is a sacred promise,” Biden said.
“Donald Trump sees this as if it’s a burden,” he added.
He said President Trump views the National Defense Alliance as a “defense racket” and does not understand its role in protecting freedom and security.
“Principles have never mattered to Trump. Everything is transactional,” Biden said.
He said America’s adversaries “all cheered” after hearing Trump’s comments. “I’m not leaving. I can’t imagine any other president walking away,” Biden said.
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