President Biden on Tuesday tore into former President Donald Trump, saying the presumptive Republican nominee’s comments about Russia and certain NATO members who didn’t meet their defense spending obligations were “dangerous,” “un-American” and a threat to U.S. security.
Mr. Biden said such comments sent a shudder through the world and essentially amounted to the former president giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a “free pass” to invade European allies.
“For God’s sake, it’s dumb. It’s shameful. It’s dangerous. It’s un-American,” Mr. Biden said of the former president’s remarks. “When America gives its word, it means something. When we make a commitment, we keep it. And NATO is a sacred comment.”
Mr. Trump said at a campaign rally Saturday that, during his presidency, he had warned an unnamed NATO country to pay its mutual defense obligations. If the country didn’t pay up, Mr. Trump said, he hoped that Russia would do “whatever the hell they want” to the NATO member.
The verbal assault on Mr. Trump was part of Mr. Biden’s remarks urging House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, to bring a $95.3 billion national security package to the House floor for a vote.
The U.S. Senate passed the package, which provides military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, early Tuesday morning. It finally succeeded after a handful of Republican senators relented, and it passed by a vote of 70-29.
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However, Mr. Johnson has said he will not bring the bill to the House floor. He has decried the package’s lack of “real border security provisions.”
In response, Mr. Biden has accused the speaker of bowing to Mr. Trump, who has heavily criticized the bill. He urged Mr. Johnson not to be intimidated by Trump loyalists in Congress, whom Mr. Biden branded as “most extreme” members of the House.
“This is a critical act for the House to move. It needs to move. This bill provides urgent funding for Ukraine to keep defending itself against Putin’s vicious, vicious onslaught,” he said.
Mr. Biden saved his strongest remarks for Mr. Trump, whom he is expected to face in a rematch in November.
“Donald Trump looks at this as if it’s a burden,” Mr. Biden said. “When he looks at NATO he doesn’t see the alliance that protects America and the world. He sees a protection racket. You don’t understand that NATO is built on the fundamental principles of freedom, security and national sovereignty because for Trump, principles never matter.”
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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