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President Trump got NATO leaders to “commit” to doubling their military budgets in support of the so-called “defensive” alliance.
Only—they’re not actually going to do that.
The pledge is to boost spending over the next 10 years, and most of it is earmarked for infrastructure projects, not new weapons or military readiness. It’s a ruse.
Does President Trump know this? Of course he does. But what does it matter to him? His goal was to reduce the U.S. share of NATO’s budget—and he did. NATO wanted to make a big show of stepping up—and they did. Everybody wins except NATO itself which will inevitably shrink without the big bucks from the U.S.
NATO chief Mark Rutte even delivered an Oscar-worthy speech in front of Trump, praising members for meeting their financial goals. Trump nodded along approvingly. But it was all theater.
Need proof? Rutte called Trump “Daddy”. A reporter asked the President about it, and Trump smirked it off: Sure, he said, they need help.
The White House even posted a video leaning into it: Daddy’s home.