Donald Trump campaigned on shaking up the establishment.
The swamp in D.C. has resisted every effort by President Trump to put America first.
And instead of defending the President, Paul Ryan made the worst decision of his life.
President Trump traveled to Brussels to attend the NATO summit.
Ever since he was a candidate, Trump has questioned the usefulness of a military alliance that benefits Europe far more than the United States.
The United States picks up the lion’s share of the tab, while European countries shell out a fraction of the agreed upon two percent of Gross Domestic Product for their defense.
Spending little to nothing on defense allows European counties to construct lavish welfare states while mooching off the United States generosity for their safety and security.
President Trump fired off a series of tweets blasting NATO allies for freeloading off the United States and taking advantage of previous administrations:
Many countries in NATO, which we are expected to defend, are not only short of their current commitment of 2% (which is low), but are also delinquent for many years in payments that have not been made. Will they reimburse the U.S.?
What good is NATO if Germany is paying Russia billions of dollars for gas and energy? Why are there only 5 out of 29 countries that have met their commitment? The U.S. is paying for Europe’s protection, then loses billions on Trade. Must pay 2% of GDP IMMEDIATELY, not by 2025.
Billions of additional dollars are being spent by NATO countries since my visit last year, at my request, but it isn’t nearly enough. U.S. spends too much. Europe’s borders are BAD! Pipeline dollars to Russia are not acceptable!
During a press conference, Paul Ryan claimed to show solidarity with President Trump declaring, “I subscribe to the view that we should not be criticizing our president while he’s overseas. But let me say a couple of things NATO is indispensable. It is as important today as it ever has been. We are reflecting that in a resolution we are bringing to the floor today.”
But Ryan’s actions told a different story.
The House and Senate voted on resolutions praising the NATO alliance that many Trump supporters saw as means to undermine the President’s push to stop having European nations take advantage of America.
The resolution stated:
“[The House] supports keeping United States sanctions imposed against Russia” and says its essential for “the United States to maintain and increase political, economic, and security support for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.”
Trump has floated the idea of drawing down America’s military presence in Europe unless America’s supposed “allies” start paying their fair share for their own national defense.
Ryan’s resolution undermined this negotiating posture.
Trump supporters agree with the President in questioning NATO’s usefulness.
The alliance was put together to thwart the expansion of communism into Western Europe after World War 2.
But the Soviet Empire collapsed for good in 1991 and Russian no longer has the economic or military might to reconstitute the USSR.
Many Americans agree that it’s right to question the foreign policy of past U.S. Presidents that put the interests of the globalist agenda ahead of the United States.
And that starts with examining why the United States is footing the bill for Europe when the European Union has the second largest economy in the world and the alliance’s stated enemy no longer exists.
And these same Americans are outraged that Paul Ryan would lead an effort in Congress – no matter how symbolic – that took a swipe at the President putting America first on the global stage.
Do you agree?
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
