Donald Trump, who during his years in office repeatedly attacked NATO allies and discussed pulling the US from the international alliance, sparked an avalanche of harsh criticism after suggesting that NATO owes its existence to him.
“I hope everyone is able to remember that it was me, as President of the United States, that got delinquent NATO members to start paying their dues, which amounted to hundreds of billions of dollars. There would be no NATO if I didn’t act strongly and swiftly,” Trump wrote in a statement shared by his Twitter spokesperson on Monday.
The former president also patted himself on the back for supplying Ukraine with weapons, despite once threatening to withhold security assistance from the country unless it helped smear Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 election.
“It was me that got Ukraine the very effective anti-tank busters (Javelins) when the previous Administration was sending blankets. Let History so note!” Trump added.
Yup. After facing widespread backlash for praising Putin as a “genius” and calling the Ukraine invasion “a wonderful thing,” Trump is now trying to portray himself as Ukraine’s savior.
Naturally, Twitter users wasted no time reminding Trump that he was impeached for withholding $400 million worth of congressionally approved military aid from the nation in an attempt to extort President Volodymyr Zelensky into manufacturing dirt on Biden and his family.
Read Trump’s statement and some of the reactions below.
NEW!
President Donald J. Trump:
“I hope everyone is able to remember that it was me, as President of the United States, that got delinquent NATO members to start paying their dues, which amounted to hundreds of billions of dollars. There would be no NATO if I didn't act… pic.twitter.com/i2toF05WIM
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) February 28, 2022
Russian puppet, go fuck yourself!
— Bob Levine (@idguy) February 28, 2022
President Trump spent a large part of his presidency attacking NATO, saying that NATO was obsolete, and attacking our allies.
We are certainly seeing today how crucially important NATO is, how crucially important our allies are. pic.twitter.com/9eSXhlKGJk
— Rep. Liz Cheney (@RepLizCheney) February 27, 2022
This guy…
You tried to break up NATO for your Russian masters
— 🌊 🌊 🌊 RobertVonBrianSmith🌊 🌊 🌊 (@RobertVonB1) February 28, 2022
Errrr… pic.twitter.com/3XXSwxAX0S
— Against The Grain (@LilQuteGrL) February 28, 2022
You didn't get anything from them but laughed at FDG pic.twitter.com/n1zN50lUQA
— Diane Bryant (@DianeBr88106037) February 28, 2022
Donald…You have a psych evaluation today at 1pm. Don't be late!!
— oma257 (@oma2572) February 28, 2022
He called it obsolete and wanted to exit NATO pic.twitter.com/OUn8m8zIJe
— Grudgie the Whale (@grudging1) February 28, 2022
"Me me me me!"
If #maralagofurher was still in office he would be sending troops to help Russia in their "genius peacekeeping mission to secure it's borders from those mean old Ukrainians who wouldn't just say Biden was under investigation for me" https://t.co/D7Xp3pgsOy
— lastmanstanding (@arikboyerart) February 28, 2022
Biden has done a masterful job in rallying our allies and the world, in coming to Ukraine aid.
Had you been President people would have allied you with Putin, who you praise consistently, and the USA would not be looked to for leadership and counsel.— AnnieRed. (@Anneredmond13) February 28, 2022
That's a lie and we all know it!! All you did was cause division with NATO as Putin wanted you too do. President Biden had to come in and repair the chaos you created.
— Peggy Shaw (My G-son's drawing of me not a filter) (@Fall2891) February 28, 2022
