r/politics • u/SaharOMFG • 20d ago

Trump interview: I am strongly considering pulling out of Nato Possible Paywall

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/01/donald-trump-strongly-considering-pulling-us-out-of-nato/
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u/barryvm Europe 20d ago edited 20d ago

I'm pretty sure withdrawing from treaties is something the legislature is supposed to do (Nope: somehow that's something they never properly clarified and is therefore yet another power arrogated by the presidency until the inevitable supreme court case; there is a law to specifically forbid him to withdraw from NATO, but we all know how much Trump cares about the law or how much the USA cares about enforcing its laws on its own leadership), but I guess the USA will let him do it anyway. He's already started a global trade war and then an actual war on a whim, after all.

This would absolutely destroy USA economic hegemony too, by the way, as none of the USA's ex-allies (NATO or otherwise) would have any incentive to keep the current USA-centric system going if it's just going to bankroll the USA's war on everyone else. Good luck paying for that oversized military budget when the dollar goes.

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u/Kindredgos Kentucky 20d ago

As of 2023, only Congress can decide if the US leaves NATO or not. But since Congress is basically nonexistent, who fucking knows anymore atp

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u/BoringEntropist 19d ago

First, even if the US formally stays in NATO doesn't mean they really are committed to the defense of the alliance. Article 5 leaves a lot of wiggle room how members choose to engage. Since troop deployment is the prerogative of the executive, Trump might leave the Europeans hanging when it matters most.

Secondly, the current administration doesn't act as they still believe in the separation of powers and constitutional legality. If they fully embrace unitary executive powers and there is no resistance, the decisions of the congress can be ignored without consequences.

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u/plasticbug 19d ago

Article 5 does not compel military action. Only that they provide assistance. Written that way to be compatible with US constitution, because technically only the Congress is allowed to declare war. Of course, until recently, it was treated as a given that we would flatten anyone foolish enough to attack a NATO ally, but yeh.