Well, folks, buckle up because Donald Trump is making waves again, this time with a hard-line stance on U.S. foreign aid and NATO spending.
During a recent interview on Meet the Press, the president-elect didn’t pull any punches, signaling that Ukraine might need to brace for reduced U.S. assistance and that NATO allies better start picking up the tab—or risk the U.S. walking away from the alliance altogether.
When asked point-blank if Ukraine should prepare for less aid, Trump’s response was a firm, no-frills “Yeah. Probably. Sure.” His reasoning? The numbers don’t add up. According to Trump, the U.S. has shelled out $350 billion for Ukraine, while European countries have only contributed a fraction of that—about $100 billion.
Trump made it clear he expects Europe to step up, emphasizing, “War with Russia is more important for Europe than it is for us. We have a little thing called an ocean in between us.”
Trump says Ukraine should prepare itself for a change in how much assistance it gets and that NATO countries need to step up and start paying their fair share. pic.twitter.com/mJOSKY1i1p
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) December 8, 2024
And NATO? Trump didn’t mince words there, either. He reminded everyone of his tenure as president, when he pressured NATO members to cough up billions in overdue contributions. By his account, his tough approach brought over $600 billion into the alliance’s coffers.
But now, Trump is taking an even harder stance: Pay up, or the U.S. might be out. “If they’re paying their bills, absolutely,” he said about staying in NATO. “But NATO’s taking advantage of us… On top of that, we defend them. So it’s a double-whammy.”
Trump’s critique didn’t stop at finances. He called the ongoing war in Ukraine “the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen” and pointed the finger at the current administration for not preventing it. He stressed the need to end the conflict swiftly, saying, “Biden should’ve been able to stop it.”
But here’s the kicker: Trump isn’t just making a pitch for a new foreign policy playbook; he’s sending a loud and clear message to America’s allies. NATO’s security umbrella, funded disproportionately by the U.S., isn’t a given anymore. It’s a transaction—and Trump’s terms are non-negotiable.