Donald Trump on the presidential campaign trail Saturday for 2024 reelection riled the crowd by say he’d encourage Russia to attack NATO member nations that don’t pay their share of the alliance’s budget.
Trump made the comment at a rally in South Carolina, where he faces his next major primary contest to become the GOP presidential nominee.
‘The president of a big country stood up and said “if we don’t pay, and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?” 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 (Russia) to do whatever the hell they want, you gotta pay! You gotta pay your bills.’
Trump has president from 2017 to 202o repeated said he strong-armed European allies into paying more for defense.
Trump’s campaign rhetoric this weekend suggests that if reelected he would make attempt to get member nations to pay more into the alliance.
