Trump’s comments about Russia and NATO spark controversy

[KARAH RUCKER]

WHILE MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION TODAY WILL BE ABOUT THE CHIEFS WINNING THE SUPER BOWL –

IN POLITICS – THE BUZZ – IS ABOUT TRUMP.

REMARKS HE MADE ABOUT NATO AT A RALLY IN SOUTH CAROLINA ARE MAKING HEADLINES.

TRUMP ON NATO VO

TRUMP BEING CRITICAL OF NATO IS NOTHING NEW.

HE’S OFTEN DESCRIBED IT AS A FLAWED INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP –

ACCUSING SOME COUNTRIES OF NOT PULLING THEIR FINANCIAL WEIGHT IN THE ALLIANCE –

AND THE U.S. HAVING TO OVERCOMPENSATE.

IN SOUTH CAROLINA ON SATURDAY – TRUMP RECALLED PRESSING NATO COUNTRIES DURING HIS PRESIDENCY.

TRUMP SAYS HE TOLD A NATO ALLY THAT IF THEY DIDN’T PAY – THEY’D BE CUT OUT.

THEREFORE – NO LONGER PROTECTED UNDER NATO POLICY THAT PROMISES IF A NATO COUNTRY IS ATTACKED – THEN NATO AS A WHOLE WILL RESPOND.

[DONALD TRUMP]

ONE OF THE PRESIDENT’S OF A BIG COUNTRY, HE STOOD UP, SAID, ‘WELL SIR, IF WE DON’T PAY AND WE’RE ATTACKED BY RUSSIA, WILL YOU PROTECT US? I SAID, “YOU DIDN’T PAY? YOU’RE DELINQUENT? HE SAID, “YES.” LET’S SAY THAT HAPPENED, NO, I WOULD NOT PROTECT YOU. IN FACT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO WHATEVER THE HELL THEY WANT. YOU GOT TO PAY. YOU GOT TO PAY YOUR BILLS.

[KARAH RUCKER]

LEFT-LEANING NEWS OUTLETS LIKE CNN DESCRIBED TRUMP’S WORDS AS “INCENDIARY REMARKS” THAT SENT “VERY REAL SHUDDERS THROUGH EUROPE”.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – “FAVORING FOES OVER FRIENDS, TRUMP THREATENS TO UPEND INTERNATIONAL ORDER.”

POLITICO’S HEADLINE READ “ENOUGH TO MAKE REAGAN ILL”.

POLITICO’S HEADLINE WAS A QUOTE FROM DEMOCRAT ADAM SCHIFF.

SCHIFF AND MANY DEMOCRATS WERE CRITICAL OF TRUMP’S COMMENTS.

THE WHITE HOUSE EVEN CALLING IT “APPALLING AND UNHINGED.”

BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE – REPUBLICANS CAME TO THE PRESIDENT’S DEFENSE.

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO WAS ASKED ABOUT TRUMP’S COMMENTS ON CNN SUNDAY.

[MARCO RUBIO]

HE DOESN’T TALK LIKE A TRADITIONAL POLITICIAN. HE USED LEVERAGE TO GET PEOPLE TO STAND UP TO THE PLATE.”

TRUMP’S REMARKS WERE NOT WELL RECEIVED BY NATO.

A NATO CHIEF SAYS TRUMP UNDERMINED NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY.

AND PUT AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN SOLDIERS AT RISK.

TRUMP BROUGHT UP NATO’S FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS IN A COMPARISON TO COUNTRIES GIVING AID TO UKRAINE.

TRUMP ARGUED THE U.S. IS IN A SIMILAR POSITION BY GIVING MORE TO UKRAINE THAN WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE GIVEN.

AND ARGUED THE U.S. SHOULD ONLY PROVIDE FOREIGN AID IN THE FORM OF A LOAN WHILE CONGRESS CURRENTLY WEIGHS A FOREIGN AID PACKAGE.