The White House rejected former President Donald Trump’s remarks encouraging Russia to invade NATO countries, calling them “appalling and misguided.”
Trump made these comments during a campaign rally in North Carolina. Recounting what appeared to be a meeting with NATO leaders, the former US president said, “One head of a major country stood up and said: ‘Alright, sir, if we don’t pay (the financial commitments required by the alliance) and we get attacked by Russia, will you protect us?'”
Trump went on to say, “I told him: If you don’t pay and you don’t fulfill your obligations, no… I’m not going to protect you. In fact, I’ll encourage them (the Russians) to do whatever they want. You have to pay and settle your bills.”
When White House spokesperson Andrew Bates was asked to comment on Trump’s remarks, he stated that “encouraging murderous regimes to invade our closest allies is appalling and reckless, jeopardizing US national security, global stability, and our domestic economy.”
