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His comments drew anger from Democrats and raised concerns among European leaders, including NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who said in a statement that “any suggestion that allies do not defend each other… “It undermines the overall security of our country, including the United States, and threatens the security of the United States.” And European soldiers are at risk. ”
But among Republican lawmakers, the comments were met with a mix of backlash, defense, and silence.
As they voted to advance financial aid measures for Ukraine and Israel on Sunday, some Republican senators told reporters they had not heard the president’s remarks.
“I need to hear what he has to say first because I haven’t seen anything like that,” said Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.). When asked by a reporter if he thought President Trump was right to encourage Russia to attack NATO members, Tuberville said, “I don’t buy that.”
Some lawmakers, like Sen. Thom Tillis, RN.C., tried to distance themselves from Trump’s comments, but the president expressed frustration that NATO members were not carrying their weight. He reminded reporters that this was not the first time.
“He used a little hyperbole that I wouldn’t have used, but he’s right that too many member states don’t pay at least 2% to NATO,” Tillis said. It added that it was “unreasonable negligence” on behalf of President Trump’s staff. For “accepting” the idea that Russia would attack a NATO member state.
“Of course I believe that’s not what he should say, but I also don’t believe he truly believes it,” he said.
Some dismissed Trump’s comments as “political” and suggested the president’s words were being used to create a negative narrative.
“It’s clear he’s going to make them pay, but I don’t think he’s going to back out,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. “He’s trying to make his point, but I’m not worried about that at all.”
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said in an interview with CNN on Sunday that President Trump’s comments shouldn’t be taken literally, saying the former president was simply “trying to figure out how to use leverage to persuade people.” He defended himself by claiming that he was just “telling a story.” Let’s step up and be more active in NATO. ”
“Mr. Trump is not a member of the Council on Foreign Relations,” Rubio said in his State of the Union address. “He doesn’t speak like a traditional politician.”
Most rejected the idea that President Trump was actively trying to encourage Russian aggression.
“None of us wants a war in Europe, and I don’t think he would either,” said Sen. Mike Rounds (R.S.D.). “The president definitely doesn’t want us to go to war with Russia.”
Tillis also noted that “any attack against a NATO ally would have devastating consequences for the American men and women who deploy to protect our ally.”
President Trump’s comments about NATO are part of a standard campaign tirade against alliance members who have not lived up to his 2006 pledge to eventually raise military spending levels to 2% of gross domestic product (GDP). Ta.
In 2018, President Trump made harsh comments suggesting the United States might not follow through on its promise to protect other alliance members from attack unless they pay more money. It rocked a summit of NATO allies in Brussels. At the time, Tillis reassured America’s nervous allies that Congress had their full support for the alliance.
“There’s no applause line, ‘Let’s get out of NATO,'” he said at the time.
On Sunday, senators reaffirmed their commitment to NATO and the $60 billion aid transfer to Ukraine on the Senate floor. Although Ukraine is not a party to this treaty, many NATO members have united to help European nations fend off Russian aggression.
Asked what he thought about Republicans ignoring President Trump’s comments, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) issued a stern warning.
“He’s going to withdraw from NATO. He’s going to weaponize the entire Department of Justice,” Murphy said. “Everything he stopped doing in his first term, he’s going to do in his second term. Every Republican knows that deep down.”
Notably, key Republican leaders on Capitol Hill, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), remained silent on the matter. As of Monday night, Prime Minister Johnson had not publicly commented on President Trump’s remarks. A spokesperson for the speaker did not respond to a request for comment on this issue.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also did not respond to questions from reporters Sunday about President Trump’s comments. But on the Senate floor before votes to advance funding measures for Ukraine and Israel, Mr. McConnell gave an impassioned speech about the importance of America’s commitments to its allies.
“In some circles, it has become very fashionable to ignore the global interests we have as a world power and to bemoan the responsibilities of world leaders, who have sustained the longest drought of great power conflict in human history. We know that,” McConnell said. He said. “This is lazy work for lazy minds. And it has no place in the United States Senate.”
Some Republicans were more outspoken in their criticism of President Trump. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told reporters it was unfair for President Trump to suggest that the United States would throw its NATO allies “to the Russian wolves.”
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) told reporters as he left the Senate chamber on Sunday that the former president’s comments had “dangerous implications.”
“One of America’s advantages in geopolitics is that we have friends, but Russia and China don’t have friends,” Romney said. “Well, if you keep saying you won’t protect your friends under obligation, you’re going to lose them.”
Liz Goodwin contributed to this report.
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