Donald Trump’s statement that he would not come to the aid of European NATO allies and would encourage Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” gained attention in the media after President Joe Biden and European leaders highlighted its importance. However, the reporting on this topic has missed a crucial aspect: Trump’s threat to abandon the Constitution, not just allies. NATO, founded in 1949, is based on mutual defense outlined in Article 5 of the NATO charter. This article has only been invoked once in the organization’s history, when the United States called on its allies after the 9/11 attacks.
NATO forces, including troops from non-NATO members like Australia, New Zealand, and Mongolia, fought alongside American troops in Afghanistan for almost 20 years. Ukraine, a non-NATO member, also contributed troops to the effort. Many NATO member countries, as well as non-members, lost service members in Afghanistan. Trump’s statement about leaving allies for Russia to do as they please with is a betrayal of nations that answered the United States’ call and lost their soldiers in Afghanistan.
Furthermore, Trump’s statement should be shocking because it goes against Article VI of the Constitution, which declares that treaties are the “supreme Law of the Land.” By saying he would break treaty obligations to U.S. allies and hand them over to Russia, Trump is essentially stating that he will break the law. Failure to uphold the obligations of Article 5 would be a grave betrayal of allies and a direct failure to uphold the Constitution.
Vladimir Putin has remained quiet about Trump’s statements, perhaps in an effort to avoid tipping off his plans as military assistance for Ukraine passes through Congress. Republicans, including Senator Marco Rubio, have dismissed Trump’s statement, with Rubio suggesting that Trump doesn’t talk like a traditional politician. However, passing a law to prevent any president from withdrawing from NATO without a two-thirds vote of Congress is futile if the president can simply ignore the supreme law of the land.
European leaders are now preparing for a world in which America is an afterthought, as they consign U.S. leadership to the dustbin. The coverage of Trump’s statement has failed to emphasize the gravity of the situation, with Republicans prioritizing loyalty to Trump over upholding the Constitution. Rubio’s unwillingness to stand up to Trump demonstrates the lack of accountability within the party. Overall, Trump’s statement not only betrays allies but also undermines the foundations of the United States’ democratic system.
