MESSAGING GUIDANCE:

Trump’s Latest NATO Demands Are Yet Another Thinly Veiled Attempt to Undermine the Greatest Military Alliance in the History of the World

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Background:

Desperate to appear tough in the face of collapsing poll numbers, Donald Trump is now demanding that America’s NATO allies spend three percent of their annual GDP on defense, arguing that they are not doing enough to prepare for a future conflict. A closer examination of the numbers proves that Trump’s bluster once again has no basis in reality. European defense spending has grown faster under the Biden-Harris Administration than at any time during Trump’s presidency – and currently sits at the highest levels in decades.

Trump’s new demands are the latest in a long line of steps he’s taken to undermine and weaken this crucial alliance – which his former advisors believe he will withdraw from if elected President again. Serving as Commander-in-Chief is the ultimate responsibility, and with these comments, Donald Trump has made clear once again that he is not up to the job of keeping the American people safe.

Talking Points:

  • Today, NATO is under threat like never before. The most obvious threat, of course, is Vladimir Putin, who is dedicated to undermining and eventually defeating the greatest military alliance in the history of the world.

  • But Putin is hardly the only threat looming over NATO. Perhaps the most serious danger of all is coming from within: the presidential aspirations of Donald Trump. In recent years, he has: 

    • Repeatedly threatened to let Russia “do whatever the hell they want” to NATO members he feels are not paying enough for their security. 

    • Called NATO “obsolete” and questioned whether it was worth American investment.

    • Repeatedly suggested that the United States might not defend our allies, were they to come under attack from Putin or other adversaries.

    • Blamed NATO for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine – a piece of Russian propaganda that undoubtedly pleased Putin.

  • These comments are shocking, but they are not a surprise. They’re consistent with his behavior for many years now – a striking example of how Donald Trump prioritizes himself and his relationships with autocrats over the security of the American people and our allies around the world.

  • Trump’s threats to abandon NATO are a gift to Vladimir Putin and a threat to American national security. The American people and the world deserve better from an American President.

  • Because the truth is, Europeans are doing more than ever before to make us stronger and help us build a world that is free, independent, prosperous and secure.

    • Twenty-three NATO members, out of 32, are expected to spend at least two percent of their gross domestic product on defense – compared with just nine in 2020 when Donald Trump was president. 

    • This year alone America’s NATO partners — Canada and 30 European nations — will spend an estimated $506.7 billion on defense. That is an increase of $181 billion from 2020, compared with an increase of $70 billion from 2016 to 2020 during the previous administration.

    • In the next five years, our NATO allies will add over 650 fifth-generation F-35 aircraft, over 1,000 air defense systems, nearly 50 warships and submarines, 1,200 battle tanks, 11,300 combat vehicles and nearly 2,000 artillery systems to modernize their arsenals, making us all more secure.

    • The United States gave Ukraine $80 billion between January 2022 and the end of April 2024. Europe gave $110 billion. This is the first time since World War II that our European partners have carried more of the burden than the United States in a major conflict.

  • Why is this all possible? Because President Biden and Vice President Harris knew that we could persuade our allies and partners to do more — and spend more — if we strengthened and deepened ties instead of bullying them or threatening to leave the alliance like Donald Trump did.

Published: August 2024