Recent remarks about NATO by President Trump have some pedantic people upset. Let’s see what he said and then revisit history and facts versus emotional distortions. Here is a link to what he said. It is a short 1 minute 22-second YouTube video but it puts things in context. Notice the clickbait title “Donald Trump says he would “encourage” Russia to attack Nato”.

“NATO was busted until I came along, I said, ‘Everybody’s gonna pay.’ They said, ‘Well, if we don’t pay, are you still going to protect us?’ I said, ‘Absolutely not.’ They couldn’t believe the answer.”

The former U.S. president said “one of the presidents of a big country” once asked him whether the U.S. would still defend their country if they were invaded by Russia, even if they did not pay.

“No, I would not protect you,” Trump recalled telling that country’s leader. “In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You got to pay. You got to pay your bills.” More here.

Trump was speaking about how he previously handled questions from NATO countries if they did not fulfill their obligation as promised. His over-the-top language got NATO countries that were not paying their obligations to start taking it seriously back in 2019. So, the PSYOP the media is trying to pull is to put a past outrage into the present tense. Only people with a low IQ fall for these things. The problem is our national IQ is getting lower all the time.

What happens if you don’t pay your electric bills? Your power gets shut off. Of course, the left has that entitled mindset that makes them think they don’t need to pay their bills just like deadbeat NATO nations. Even the Secretary General of NATO at the time praised Trump.

President Donald Trump “is committed to NATO” and deserves credit in obtaining $100 billion more in defense spending for the alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, said Sunday. See source USA Today

Since Trump was actually President we have facts and not speculations as to how he dealt with NATO. 

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Trump’s Strategic Moves that Bolstered NATOs Power on the International Stage

When Donald Trump assumed the presidency, his views on NATO raised eyebrows worldwide. He openly criticized the relevance and effectiveness of the alliance, questioning its cost and the burden it placed on the United States. While his brash style and skepticism stirred controversy, it also sparked important discussions about the future of NATO and the need for reform.

Then as now, Trump’s skepticism had the potential to undermine NATO’s unity and weaken its position on the international stage. His comments and unpredictable behavior caused concern among NATO allies who relied on the United States for military support. Allies began to question whether they could count on the U.S.’s commitment to their defense, and this uncertainty created a ripple effect that threatened to erode the alliance’s power. However, it had the opposite effect.

One of the strategic moves of President Donald Trump that bolstered NATO’s power on the international stage was his focus on burden-sharing. Trump consistently emphasized the need for all NATO member countries to meet their financial obligations by spending at least 2% of their respective GDP on defense. This push for fairness in defense expenditures not only strengthened NATO’s military capabilities but also demonstrated a commitment to collective security among its members.

The combined wealth of the non-US Allies, measured in GDP, is almost equal to that of the United States. However, non-US Allies together spend less than half of what the United States spends on defense. Source: NATO.INT

Furthermore, Trump’s assertion that Article 5, which declares an attack on one member as an attack on all, remained the cornerstone of NATO’s mutual defense, helped solidify unity within the alliance and deter potential adversaries. Additionally, his administration played a vital role in implementing measures such as increased troop contributions and enhanced military exercises among member states, thereby further enhancing both deterrence and responsiveness. Through these strategic moves, Trump contributed significantly to bolstering NATO’s power and credibility on the international stage.

In short, Trump’s undiplomatic approach to deadbeat NATO nations helped get it back on its feet.