CNN —GOP Sen. Marco Rubio defended former President Donald Trump’s controversial comment that he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to a NATO member country that didn’t meet defense spending guidelines.
Rubio went on to note that the US did not leave NATO during Trump’s presidency — though Trump made private threats about withdrawing multiple times, according to The New York Times.
“Donald Trump is not a member of the Council on Foreign Relations,” Rubio told CNN’s Jake Tapper.
NATO has a target that each member country spends a minimum of 2% of gross domestic product on defense, and most countries are not meeting that target.
They’re attacking Donald Trump,” Rubio said.
Persons:
GOP Sen, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump’s, “ That’s, that’s, Rubio, —, Trump, “ Donald Trump, ” Rubio, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “, ”, ” Trump, haven’t, “ Trump’s, Nikki Haley’s, Michael, They’re, Donald Trump, Tapper, Sen, John McCain —, ” —, CNN’s Serena Golden, Kate Sullivan
Organizations:
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Locations:
Russia, Florida, CNN’s State, Conway , North Carolina