Even US Republicans Are Shocked by Trump's 'Ignoring NATO' Remarks

Some say it was "a protest against unfair duty sharing"

Former U.S. President Donald Trump showing a clenched fist to supporters.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has faced criticism from within the Republican Party for his remarks suggesting that NATO member countries that do not pay defense costs would not be helped if attacked by Russia.

On the 12th (local time), according to the U.S. daily The New York Times (NYT) and Reuters, Chris Christie, former governor of New Jersey and a Republican presidential primary candidate, criticized in an interview with NBC, saying, "This is why I have long said Trump is not fit to be the President of the United States."

At a rally held in South Carolina on the 10th, former President Trump argued that NATO allies should take responsibility for their own security even if Russia attacks, stating that for allies who do not pay defense costs, "I will not protect you. I will encourage them (Russia) to do whatever they want."

Nikki Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and a competitor in the Republican presidential primary, later criticized Trump's remarks in a CBS interview, saying that they support Russian President Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine and killed his political opponents, and added, "You should not side with a thug."

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who is close to former President Trump, also told Reuters on the same day that he did not agree with "the way Trump said those words."

However, he added, "No one invaded Russia when Trump was president, and if he becomes president again, they will not do so."

According to the U.S. political media outlet Politico on the same day, Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina criticized Trump's aides for failing to inform him that the U.S. has an obligation to defend allies if NATO member countries are attacked.

Another Republican senator, Rand Paul of Kentucky, also condemned Trump's remarks as "foolish words." Some lawmakers defended Trump’s remarks, saying they were intended to protest unfair burden-sharing.

Marco Rubio, a senior Republican member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a CNN interview, "Almost every U.S. president has complained at least once that other NATO members are not fulfilling their obligations sufficiently," adding, "Trump just expressed that complaint in these words for the first time."