Trump slams NATO, says he prevented Russia from taking 'all of Ukraine'
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: President Donald Trump branded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance “cheap” and largely ineffective without American muscle behind it on Wednesday morning, January 7, in a Truth Social post.
In a sprawling post that jumped from defense spending to the war in Ukraine - and even to his long-running grievance over international recognition - Trump argued that the global security order would be in far worse shape without his leadership.
He claimed that without him, Russian forces under Vladimir Putin would have already overrun Ukraine.
Trump claims credit for NATO 5% defense commitment
Trump described the NATO alliance partners as “cheap ingrates” who were content to meet only the 2% defense spending benchmark until he came along.
According to Trump, that dynamic has now been fundamentally altered. He claimed credit for strong-arming NATO allies into committing to spend 5% of their gross domestic product on defense by 2035 - a dramatic escalation from existing targets.
“Everyone said that couldn’t be done, but it could, because, beyond all else, they are all my friends,” Trump wrote.
Trump asserts he ended 8 wars 'single-handedly'
Trump then pivoted to Eastern Europe, asserting that Ukraine’s survival hinged entirely on his involvement. “Without my involvement, Russia would have ALL OF UKRAINE right now,” he wrote, emphasizing the claim in capital letters.
The president asserted that he had “single-handedly ENDED 8 WARS.” From there, he aimed at Norway, a NATO member, for not awarding him the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Norway, a NATO Member, foolishly chose not to give me the Noble Peace Prize,” Trump stated. “But that doesn’t matter! What does matter is that I saved Millions of Lives.”
Trump claims Russia and China have 'zero fear' of NATO
Trump also questioned the alliance’s credibility and argued that US adversaries saw NATO as toothless unless Washington was firmly in control.
“RUSSIA AND CHINA HAVE ZERO FEAR OF NATO WITHOUT THE UNITED STATES,” Trump wrote, again leaning into all-caps emphasis.
He went further, casting doubt on whether US allies would ever reciprocate American support. “I DOUBT NATO WOULD BE THERE FOR US IF WE REALLY NEEDED THEM.”
Despite that skepticism, Trump insisted the US would continue backing the alliance, adding that enemies only feared the nation he described as “DJT REBUILT USA,” referring to himself by his initials.
Trump says he’s 'not thrilled' with Vladimir Putin
The online post follows Trump’s recent comments about the ongoing war, where he said he was “not thrilled” with Putin over the lack of progress toward ending the conflict.
It also comes after Trump’s meeting last month with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which focused on potential pathways to end the war.
Following that discussion, Zelensky told reporters that Trump was considering the possibility of deploying US troops to Ukraine - a claim that has added further volatility to an already charged geopolitical debate.
