Media figures across the political spectrum reacted with dismay and disbelief after The New York Times reported that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump “called into question whether, as president, he would automatically extend the security guarantees” to members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if they were attacked by Russia.
In a July 20 interview with the Times, Trump “said that he would press the theme of ‘America First,’ his rallying cry for the past four months, and that he was prepared to scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada if he could not negotiate radically better terms.” Trump also suggested that he would not honor America’s treaty obligations to defend members of NATO from attack:
He even called into question whether, as president, he would automatically extend the security guarantees that give the 28 members of NATO the assurance that the full force of the United States military has their back.
For example, asked about Russia’s threatening activities that have unnerved the small Baltic States that are the most recent entrants into NATO, Mr. Trump said that if Russia attacked them, he would decide whether to come to their aid only after reviewing whether those nations “have fulfilled their obligations to us.”
Several journalists have documented the close ties and apparent affinity between Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin.
On Twitter, liberal, nonideological, and conservative media figures alike reacted with horror and disbelief at Trump’s comments:
Hoo. Boy. https://t.co/qPi1tPtjRR pic.twitter.com/TbMyMjNvPV
— Neil Irwin (@Neil_Irwin) July 21, 2016
NATO R.I.P. https://t.co/oaYDpiO0a4
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) July 21, 2016
The man loves authoritarians. https://t.co/UMwFeFyKNY
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) July 21, 2016
HOLY SHIT https://t.co/EdB4mbkAom
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) July 21, 2016
Train wreck. https://t.co/667xsKu8Hl
— Neil Steinberg (@NeilSteinberg) July 21, 2016
This is the savior of freedom. Come ON. https://t.co/h8gawsLjFZ
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) July 21, 2016
Becoming clear that Trump's real frustration is that he couldn't put Putin on the ticket with him. #RNCinCLE https://t.co/3c1h4Dyvbm
— Christopher Orr (@OrrChris) July 21, 2016
The single most dangerous man ever to accept a major party nomination... https://t.co/IF7C653uVZ
— Tony Fratto (@TonyFratto) July 21, 2016
This is almost too ludicrous for words https://t.co/ABdhoCjMu6
— Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp) July 21, 2016
The final paragraph is terrifying, and ought to be disqualifying for Trump. https://t.co/UNjj8j8KrZ
— Aaron MacLean (@AaronBMacLean) July 21, 2016
Major freakout coming for Eastern Europe when it wakes up to this https://t.co/KXhQAbBNkt
— Michael Crowley (@michaelcrowley) July 21, 2016
The Manafortian candidate is willing to abandon Baltics & NATO' Article V. Shameful! https://t.co/CSOw3pe1n7 pic.twitter.com/HRN4i7l07k
— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) July 21, 2016
Still say God is punking us on the election. God, we are sorry. Whatever we have done. Please, make it stop. https://t.co/CzLrvMO5vU
— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) July 21, 2016
Trump in short: Charters (like contracts) are for suckers! #RNCinCLE https://t.co/S1HhTq9Yxt
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) July 21, 2016
well that's only a legally binding obligation laid out in a treaty the U.S. signed decades ago https://t.co/VcJei2MTDU
— Mark Berman (@markberman) July 21, 2016