Nikki Haley Speaks Out Against Trump’s NATO Stance
Former UN ambassador and presidential candidate Nikki Haley criticized Donald Trump’s comments about NATO alliances in a new interview. Haley said the former president’s remarks were “bone-chilling” and empowered Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
In a recent campaign rally, Trump said he would not uphold NATO’s mutual defense clause if countries did not increase their military spending. He suggested letting Russia “do whatever the hell they want” to nations that did not meet guidelines. Haley called these comments a shocking admission that undermined the foundation of the military alliance.
What Nikki Really Thinks
In an ABC News interview, Haley pulled no punches in condemning Trump’s NATO stance. She said his words “empowered Putin” by signaling the US might not defend allies under attack. Haley knows firsthand the importance of NATO from her time at the UN, and she wasn’t having any of Trump’s talk about weakening the alliance. The former governor made clear she does not agree with the former president’s cozy relationship with authoritarian leaders like Putin.
Haley also criticized Trump’s muted response to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny in prison. She said Trump may be “distracted” by his numerous legal battles to comment on Navalny’s demise. As a presidential candidate, Haley is positioning herself as a tougher alternative to Trump on issues of national security and standing up to adversaries like Russia. Her comments show she aims to distance her foreign policy from the former president’s controversial approaches.
