Former US President Donald Trump (Reuters)
On Saturday, the White House rejected statements by former US President Donald Trump encouraging Russia to invade member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), describing those statements as “horrific and baseless.”
Trump made these statements during an election rally in North Carolina. The former US president, who appeared to be narrating what happened in a meeting with leaders of NATO member states, said: “One of the heads of a large country stood up and said: Well, sir, if we do not pay (the financial obligations assigned to the alliance) and we are attacked by Russia, will you protect us?”
Trump added, "I told him: If you don't pay and default, then I won't protect you. In fact, I will encourage them (the Russians) to do whatever they want. You have to pay and pay your bills."
When White House spokesman Andrew Bates was asked to comment on Trump's statements, he said, "Encouraging murderous regimes to invade our closest allies is horrific and unwise, and puts American national security, global stability, and our economy at home at risk."
Source: Reuters