It has been noted that President Joe Biden called out former President Donald Trump over a bombshell rally rant in which he not only threatened to abandon allies but to encourage enemies to attack them.
Although Trump committed a significant number of gaffes and miscues over the weekend, one rant stood out to political observers. At a rally in Conway, S.C. on Saturday, Trump rattled off a familiar patter about NATO — with a new wrinkle:
One of the presidents of a big country 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.”
In a statement emailed to Mediaite by the Biden campaign, the president tore into Trump as a dangerous would-be dictator catering to dictators:
Yesterday in South Carolina, Donald Trump made clear his willingness to abandon America’s NATO allies in the event of a Russian attack — going so far as to “encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want.” The following is a statement from President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.:
“Under my administration, the United States of America has stood shoulder to shoulder with our allies to build a NATO alliance that is bigger and stronger than ever and stands in defense of democracy against Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian aggression. America’s leadership on the world stage and support for our allies is critical to keeping the American people safe here at home. If my opponent, Donald Trump, is able to regain power, he is making it clear as day that he will abandon our NATO allies if Russia attacks and allow Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” with them.
“Serving as Commander-in-Chief is the ultimate responsibility and one that should weigh heavily on the individuals that hold this office. Donald Trump’s admission that he intends to give Putin a greenlight for more war and violence, to continue his brutal assault against a free Ukraine, and to expand his aggression to the people of Poland and the Baltic States are appalling and dangerous. Sadly, they are also predictable coming from a man who is promising to rule as a dictator like the ones he praises on day one if he returns to the oval office.
“As you’ve heard me say, freedom and democracy itself are on the ballot in November, and I am running for reelection to make sure that they endure.”
