TheLittleTwentieth – Renowned Papers Edition, AI Infused

Local sources from United States: BBC.com, ABC News.
UK coverage: The Independent.

Former President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about potentially violating the NATO defense pledge have divided Republicans. At a rally in South Carolina, Trump claimed that he would not protect a NATO member if they were attacked by Russia. Some Republicans dismissed his rhetoric, while others expressed concern. NATO leadership swiftly responded, stating that any suggestion of allies not defending each other undermines security. The split within the Republican Party reflects a larger divide on foreign policy and the role of the United States as a global leader.

President Joe Biden has blasted criticism of NATO by his likely 2024 election challenger, Donald Trump, as ‘dumb’, ‘shameful’, and ‘un-American’. The Democrat assailed Mr. Trump for saying he would ‘encourage’ Russia to attack any NATO member that did not meet its defense spending quota. Mr. Biden said the remarks underscored the urgency of passing a $95bn (£75bn) foreign aid package for US allies. The bill just passed the Senate, but it faces political headwinds in the House.

Some of former President Donald Trump’s closest Senate allies were out in force on Monday defending his comments over the weekend that even further call into question Trump’s commitments to the United States’ NATO allies. Multiple Republican senators backed Trump’s remarks on Saturday that he’d ‘encourage’ Russia to ‘do whatever the hell they want’ to NATO-aligned countries that don’t meet their financial obligations to the alliance. Trump’s remarks echo his long-standing criticism of the role the U.S. plays in providing security for other countries — including major allies. The former president’s comments also come as he attempts to squash a foreign aid bill in the Senate that would provide billions of dollars more in support to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan.