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Trump Demands NATO Spend More—Because America’s Broke, But Loud

Photographer by Factabot

At a NATO summit, Trump said the quiet part loud: other countries need to fund world peace so the U.S. can keep playing World Police on a discount. Europe smiled, nodded, and locked their wallets.

At the latest NATO summit, Donald Trump did what Donald Trump does best: took the mic, ditched the filter, and told European allies they need to pay up—again.

This time, he went further than usual, saying that the U.S.

was “not the world’s piggy bank” and that “peace comes at a price, and it’s not just ours to pay.” The context?

NATO countries are expected to contribute 2% of GDP toward defence. Many don’t.

Trump, who famously scolded allies throughout his first presidency, is back on his greatest hits tour—this time with more urgency and slightly more volume.

But while the tone was familiar, the backdrop is different. U.S.

defence spending is ballooning post-Ukraine, domestic priorities are getting louder, and voters are increasingly asking: why are we spending billions guarding Europe’s borders while roads, schools, and hospitals back home crumble?

Trump’s team says the U.S. deserves “financial reciprocity” from allies.

European leaders, meanwhile, smiled politely, nodded through the speeches, and quietly continued budgeting for the bare minimum.

One diplomat was overheard calling Trump’s remarks “the same performance, just louder.” In fairness, NATO spending has increased overall since 2014, largely in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

But many members still hover below the 2% mark, and Trump sees this as betrayal.

He’s framing it as both a national security risk and a domestic issue—telling voters they’re being shortchanged by freeloading allies.

Analysts say the rhetoric could hurt alliance cohesion.

Trump’s unpredictability already has Baltic and Eastern European members on edge.

Some worry that under a second Trump term, the U.S.

might reduce its presence or delay joint exercises to make a financial point.

Others note that behind the bluster, Trump isn’t wrong. The U.S.

does shoulder a disproportionate share of the defence burden.

The issue isn’t the message—it’s the delivery.

And Trump’s version of diplomacy tends to sound more like an invoice than an invitation.

The summit wrapped with vague promises and tighter smiles.

But behind the scenes, some leaders are quietly planning backup strategies—just in case “America First” turns into “NATO Last” again.

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