Former President Donald Trump admitted on Thursday that he privately threatened to abdicate the United States' commitment to defend a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally against hypothetical Russian aggression. Article 5 of the NATO charter states that "an attack against one Ally is considered as an attack against all Allies."
But for Trump, NATO is nothing more than a cadre of mooching globalists who actually hate the US and are bound by a secret agenda to economically screw it.
"Everybody was delinquent. They didn't pay," Trump said of NATO nations in a speech at a Heritage Foundation conference on Amelia Island, Florida.
He frequently repeated this false claim – along with a laundry list of related lies – during his single term as an excuse to strip funding from NATO, a move that would have only benefitted Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump continued his disjointed (and unconfirmed) anecdote:
And they asked me, one of the presidents of the countries in a closed meeting, 28 countries at that time, they said, 'well sir, are you saying that if...' cause they knew I was very unhappy cause we were paying a very, very... we were paying for most of it in my opinion. But a very high amount. So we're defending Europe. At the same time, they rip us off on trade, very, very seriously rip us off.
And he said, 'does that mean you won't protect us in case, uh, we don't pay, uh, you won't protect us from Russia, was the Soviet Union now Russia?'
I said, 'that's exactly what it means.'
Now if I said, 'no I don't mean that,' then why would they pay? So somebody had to say it. I was amazed it didn't get out. I was amazed the fake news didn't pull it out. I dunno, maybe no one wanted to talk about it. I said, 'no that's exactly...' and the money started to flow in. And the secretary-general said, 'I never saw money like this in my life.'
Watch below via Ron Filipkowski:
Trump says tonight that he was \u201camazed it didn\u2019t get out\u201d that he told the president of a NATO country in a closed door meeting that he would refuse to honor the treaty and defend other NATO countries if they were attacked by Russia, unless they spent more on defense.pic.twitter.com/vXqRjqRZjQ— Ron Filipkowski \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Ron Filipkowski \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1650581440
Given Trump's animosity toward NATO, that conversation may have indeed taken place – although there is no way to verify it.
Because he never had these discussions (Except for in his head).— Mark (@Mark) 1650581966
Plus, picturing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg supposedly drooling over Trump's money-grubbing strains the imagination.
In any case, Trump's tall tale was mocked and ridiculed on social media.
Putin and Trump are on the same side. The worse Putin\u2019s war is on the world the better it is for Trump\u2019s talking points and insurrection/campaign. That\u2019s it. That\u2019s the reality. Trump and Putin vs the Free World. They both want the same things. Chaos and total control of America— Luke Zaleski (@Luke Zaleski) 1650586582
First of all there is no money paid to NATO. Each NATO nation is supposed to fund their own military at 2% of their GDP. Second of all Russia hasn\u2019t been the Soviet Union for 30 years. Thirdly, see first point. No money was pouring in. Can\u2019t believe this guy was our President— Squeakie6 \ud83d\ude37 \ud83d\udc89\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6#StandwithUkraine (@Squeakie6 \ud83d\ude37 \ud83d\udc89\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6#StandwithUkraine) 1650585192
Einstein here cannot figure out that the NATO countries are lining up to assist this nonNATO country in militarily & in multimillion/bil aid. So, if we follow his \u201cclaim\u201d he made NATO stronger. It angered Putin, he invaded Ukraine again. Stronger NATO is providing aid to Ukraine.— Alexa Davies (@Alexa Davies) 1650628529
#BREAKING: Man Who Tried To Destroy Democracy In The United States Says He Did Not Intend To Honor Treaty Obligation To Defend Democratic Countries Against Russia— REFrankel (@REFrankel) 1650581612
Trump still doesn't understand that countries don't pay into a defense fund (excluding the NATI Administrative budget), but rather commit to spend more on defense in their country's budget. So, the money never just flows in.— Rich Willson (@Rich Willson) 1650582004
He still thinks that NATO pay dues like the members at one of his country clubs. Because that\u2019s the only thing he understands.— Rabbit of Caerbannog (@Rabbit of Caerbannog) 1650581974
Mob Boss Uses Threat of War to Extort Foreign Nation For Money— @WorldsMostHumble (@@WorldsMostHumble) 1650581780
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton, who wrote in his memoir about Trump's consideration of withdrawing from NATO in 2018, said this on Friday, March 4, 2022:\n\n "In a second Trump term, I think he may well have withdrawn from NATO. And I think Putin was waiting for that.— Walter Blake (@Walter Blake) 1650587423
That asshole wanted to pull out of NATO to protect Russia. Its a damn shame his father didn't pull out to save the US and the world.— Kat (@Kat) 1650587422
He\u2019s fantasising, as usual.\n\nAbout as true as his \u2018big tough men with tears in their eyes & grateful hearts\u2019 fantasy.— Ava (@Ava) 1650582160
Translation...\nI was a traitor for Russia before anyone even knew it.— Chevron \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udf0a#Resist #BLM (@Chevron \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udf0a#Resist #BLM) 1650581693
President Donald Trump Delivers Keynote Speech in Florida www.youtube.com
