In a stern rebuke on Tuesday, President Joe Biden criticized former President Donald Trump’s recent comments suggesting he would endorse Russia’s invasion of NATO countries failing to meet their defense spending obligations. Biden characterized these remarks as a capitulation to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The President’s comments, delivered from the State Dining Room, represent some of his most severe criticism of Trump’s foreign policy stance to date. Trump’s controversial statement was made during a rally in South Carolina last Saturday, where he suggested he would allow Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to any NATO member not meeting defense spending guidelines.
Biden described Trump’s comments as a “dangerous and shocking” signal, questioning, “Can you imagine a former president of the United States saying that?” He emphasized the global implications of such a statement, asserting, “The whole world heard it. The worst thing is he means it.”
The President began his address by urging the House of Representatives to promptly vote on the Senate-approved $95 billion supplemental aid package. This package aims to provide assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and US partners in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Over $60 billion of this package is earmarked for Ukraine, which is bracing for the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Trump’s comments have sparked widespread concern, not only within the American foreign policy establishment but also among NATO allies who have been closely monitoring Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Biden, who has dedicated much of his career to transatlantic security issues, found Trump’s remarks particularly distressing.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates condemned Trump’s comments, stating, “Encouraging invasions of our closest allies by murderous regimes is appalling and unhinged – and it endangers American national security, global stability, and our economy at home.”
Biden’s criticism from the White House podium went a step further. In a speech that mentioned Trump by name multiple times, Biden sought to emphatically dispel doubts about America’s commitment to its allies. He declared, “No other president in our history has bowed down to a Russian dictator. Let me say this as clearly as I can: I never will. For God’s sake, it’s dumb. It’s shameful. It’s dangerous. It’s un-American.”
Biden spent a significant portion of his speech on Ukraine aid criticizing Trump’s remarks, which he believes undermine core US values. He emphasized the sanctity of NATO commitments, stating, “When America gives its word, it means something. When we make a commitment, we keep it and NATO is a sacred commitment.”
Biden further criticized Trump’s view of NATO as a “protection racket” and his failure to understand its role in safeguarding freedom and security. He concluded, “For Trump, principles never matter. Everything is transactional. American adversaries all cheered when they heard Trump’s comments. I will not walk away. I can’t imagine any other president walking away.”