Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly moved toward withdrawing the United States from NATO during his tenure, according to former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton as cited by a publication. Bolton described Trump’s inclination as an attempt to set the stage for an American exit from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, noting that part of the motive stemmed from a misunderstanding of how the alliance’s structures and functions could be leveraged for U.S. interests. The account suggests that Trump questioned the value of NATO and its responsibilities, raising questions about the U.S. commitment to collective defense and alliance-based security measures.
Bolton recalled that during the 2018 NATO summit, Trump was very close to deciding to leave the alliance at the highest level of discussion. The former adviser emphasized that such a move would have sent a powerful signal to allies and adversaries alike, potentially destabilizing the transatlantic security framework that has underpinned Western defense since World War II. Bolton pointed to the risk that a U.S. withdrawal would not only alter the balance of security within Europe but also challenge the credibility of the United States as a NATO partner.
In the same broader context, Bolton indicated that a decision to abandon NATO would have been interpreted as a collapse of the alliance, with wide-ranging repercussions for allied commitments and global security dynamics. The discussion underscored how political leadership shapes perceptions of alliance reliability and the consequences of questioning sustained defense cooperation among member nations.
On February 11, during a pre-election rally in South Carolina, Trump reportedly stated that Moscow would be willing to support hypothetical attacks on NATO member states that did not meet their financial obligations to the alliance’s defense program. The episode was framed by the former president as a point about burden-sharing and the alignment of defense expenditures with collective security promises. The remarks were brought into broader political debate about how the United States should conduct its defense policies and how allies contribute to shared defense costs.
Earlier remarks from President Joe Biden criticized Trump for seemingly trying to provoke Russia into taking actions against NATO, highlighting the ongoing political contention over how U.S. leadership views alliance cohesion, deterrence, and the price of collective security. The exchange reflects persistent disagreements over strategy and the interpretation of the alliance’s role in safeguarding member states and deterring potential aggressors within the Euro-Atlantic region.