During a campaign event in South Carolina, former President Donald Trump took the opportunity to express his views on NATO members who he believed were not fulfilling their financial obligations. In his characteristic bloviate style, Trump suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin should have the freedom to take action against these “delinquent” members. However, this notion of unpaid bills and a collective fund is simply a figment of Trump’s imagination, as NATO members have already committed to allocating 2 percent of their annual GDP to military spending.
“One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, ‘Well, sir, if we don’t pay and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’” Trump told an audience at a campaign rally in South Carolina. “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 to do whatever the hell they want.”
The crowd at the event cheered, not necessarily because they agreed with the idea of Eastern European countries being absorbed into Russia, but because the MAGA crowd typically seems to love his standup routines that typically overwhelm these types of events. Not to mention this has been an effective tactic used by Trump since making his debut into the mainstream political landscape back in 2015, needless to say, his base continues to consume red meat and beg for seconds and thirds.
Also, not to spread a Russia phobia that diehard blue-wave liberals love to hang on to, any superpower, whether it be NATO or Russia essentially being granted free reign in a region could be catastrophic to peace in said region. We’ve seen what it’s done in Ukraine with complete disregard for Russian redlines which have in turn resulted in innocent Ukraine citizens becoming fodder. We’ve also seen it in Gaza where Israel continues to operate genocide against Palestinians in Gaza with complete and total impunity.
By the following day, Trump had moved on to different topics. On Truth Social, his social media platform, he found himself complaining about none other than Taylor Swift – a diversion from more pressing matters.
“I signed and was responsible for the Music Modernization Act for Taylor Swift and all other Musical Artists. Joe Biden didn’t do anything for Taylor, and never will. There’s no way she could endorse Crooked Joe Biden, the worst and most corrupt President in the History of our Country, and be disloyal to the man who made her so much money.”