Donald Trump threatened, if re-elected, to no longer guarantee NATO protection against Russia and promised a massive wave of expulsions at the border, during a meeting on Saturday in South Carolina.
The former American president regularly criticizes his allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for not sufficiently funding the institution. During the meeting, Mr. Trump reported a conversation with one of the NATO heads of state, without naming him.
“One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said: well, sir, if we don’t pay and we are attacked by Russia, will you protect us?” says the billionaire before revealing his response: “No, I would not protect you. In fact I would encourage them to do whatever they want to you. You must pay your debts.”
This statement comes after Mr. Trump, likely candidate against Democratic President Joe Biden in the November presidential election, put pressure on Republican elected officials in Congress to bury a bill providing for the payment of new aid to Ukraine as well as a reform of migration policy.
The White House responded to Mr. Trump’s statements by touting Mr. Biden’s efforts to strengthen alliances around the world.
– “Appalling and insane” –
“Encouraging the invasion of our closest allies by murderous regimes is appalling and senseless,” responded Andrew Bates, White House spokesperson, in a statement released Saturday evening.
“Rather than calling for war and promoting chaos, President Biden will continue to support American leadership,” Bates added.
The agreement blocked in Congress provided for additional aid to Ukraine and Israel.
Totaling $95 billion, it will be debated next week and includes funds for Israel’s fight against Hamas and for a key strategic ally, Taiwan.
The lion’s share, however, would help Ukraine replenish its stocks of munitions, weapons and other essential needs, as the country enters a third year of war.
Donald Trump has often been doubtful, sometimes hostile, about continued American aid to Ukraine and even threatened to leave NATO if he returned to the White House.
– “The largest expulsion operation in history” –
Mr. Trump also once again took up the burning issue of immigration, another major controversial subject in the electoral campaign. Under his pressure, Republican elected officials seem to have decided to block any reform of migration policy before the presidential election.
“Let’s not forget that this week we also won a big victory that all conservatives should celebrate. We crushed the disastrous project of this crook Joe Biden on open borders,” launched the billionaire. “The whole group did a great job in Congress. We crushed it.”
The former president, who built his popularity by promising the construction of a wall between the United States and Mexico, assured that the expulsion of migrants would be one of his priorities if he returned to the White House .
“On day one, I will end all open border policies of the Biden administration and we will launch the largest domestic deportation operation in U.S. history. We have no choice “, he said.
– Nikki Haley’s husband –
During his meeting, Mr. Trump also took a dig at Nikky Haley, former governor of the state of South Carolina and her rival for the Republican nomination, ironically about the absence of her husband at her side during countryside.
“Where is her husband? Oh, he’s gone, he’s gone. What happened to her husband?” he asked with voice effects.
Largely left behind in the nomination race, the former United States ambassador to the UN responded sharply on X about her husband, Michael Haley, engaged for a year in a military deployment in Djibouti.
“He is deployed in service to our country, something you know nothing about. Someone who continually disrespects the sacrifices of military families has no business being commander in chief,” she said. tackle.
Said husband also sent a message to the billionaire on pack”.
published on February 11 at 6:57 a.m., AFP