Former President Donald Trump said in a press conference at CPAC 2023 Saturday that the Russia-Ukraine war “should be settled in 24 hours” and ripped into the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict.
“Meanwhile, would you encourage congress to continue to provide aid to Ukraine,” a reporter asked Trump.
The former president responded by calling on Europe and NATO to start paying their fair share to Ukraine. Trump explained: “I would say that Europe should start spending money. We’re up to 140 billion dollars and they’re at like 15 billion. It’s the old story. Whether it’s trade with Europe or anything of the other things we do. NATO, look I got them to put up over $400 billion dollars because when I got there Europe wasn’t paying for NATO…and I got them to put up $447 billion dollars in a very short period of time. They wouldn’t have the money to be fighting Russia right now if it wasn’t for me.”
“What I don’t like seeing is that the united states is in for $140 billion and they’re in for less than $25 [billion],” Trump added.
The foreign conflict also “affects them [Europe and NATO] more” Trump continued, before saying the United States’ continuous funding makes us look “stupid.”
“Let’s not be called a ‘stupid country’ and that’s what they call us because we’re defending that whole situation and it effects Europe more than us. Germany is not paying its share, other countries are not paying its share and the United States is really taking the whole load and it’s not right.”
“Within 10 minutes they’d agree to pay if you said the right things to him,” Trump concluded.
WATCH:
Trump says only a "stupid country" would keep funding the Ukraine war as much as the U.S. does while NATO and Europe "put up a fraction" of U.S. aid. pic.twitter.com/ql2b8wOqBm
— Paul Aubert (@_paulaubert) March 4, 2023