Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) in a Wednesday interview slammed former President Trump’s remarks about Russia, saying he is effectively giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a green light and setting the stage for World War III.
Moskowitz took issue with remarks over the weekend in which Trump said he would not protect European countries in NATO if they were “delinquent” in payments to the security alliance.
“Donald Trump, with what he’s talking about dealing with Russia, if Russia would start invading Europe, that would start World War III, by the way,” Moskowitz said in an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“Donald Trump is talking about that, and setting the stage. You can be sure every single world leader, other than Vladimir Putin, saw that and said, ‘There is no way America can have him back as president’,” Moskowitz continued.
At a rally in South Carolina Saturday, Trump told a story from his time as president where he spoke to another leader of a NATO country.
“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?’” Trump said at the rally. “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.”
The comments drew backlash from President Biden, who said that if Trump is “able to regain power, he is making it clear as day that he will abandon our NATO allies” if they face an attack by Russia Sunday.
“Serving as Commander-in-Chief is the ultimate responsibility and one that should weigh heavily on the individuals that hold this office,” Biden said in a statement. “Donald Trump’s admission that he intends to give Putin a green light 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.”
Trump during his time as president pressed NATO members to spend 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense. NATO’s leader says the members will collectively reach that threshold in 2024 and that overall 18 NATO members will meet or exceed the 2 percent goal this year.