Iowa US Rep. Zach Nunn says Trump 'doing a disservice' with threat to abandon NATO allies

Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn spoke critically of Donald Trump Monday after the former president suggested he might "encourage" Russia to attack U.S. NATO allies that don't contribute enough financially to their own defense.

"I think anyone who would threaten our allies is doing a disservice to our country," Nunn told reporters following a Monday news conference in Des Moines. "That means provoking Russia's bad behavior. That means anyone who's going to, you know, stash intelligence material in their garage or in their compound. These are all things that people need to be held accountable for. I don't care if they're the sitting president or the former president."

Trump made the comments Saturday during a campaign rally in Conway, South Carolina. He said if he's elected again, he would weigh whether NATO members are contributing enough financially to the foundational alliance before determining whether to come to their aid if they were ever under attack.

Trump said he made the point to an unnamed head of state during an international meeting while he was in office.

“One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, ‘Well, sir, if we don’t pay and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’" Trump recalled. "I said, ‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’ He said, ‘Yes, let’s say that happened.’ No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills."

NATO's charter requires member countries to come to the aid of others if they are attacked. Members are asked to spend at least 2% of their gross domestic product, or GDP, on defense to ensure the alliance's military readiness, and Trump has routinely targeted nations that he says have not met that standard.

Nunn, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, said national security is a top priority and one of the reasons he ran for Congress in 2022.

"I also recognize that when we have a situation where we have a president, sitting or former, that doesn't stand up to an adversary or threatens our allies that we are doing a disservice to our own national security right here at home," Nunn said.

Trump's comments have been roundly criticized, including by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who said they undermine the organization's mission and put soldiers at risk.

“Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk," Stoltenberg said in a statement. "I expect that regardless of who wins the presidential election, the U.S. will remain a strong and committed NATO ally.”

Iowa's Republican U.S. senators, Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley, gave brief responses to The Independent also condemning Trump's words.

“That’s horrible," said Ernst, a combat veteran.

“No American should do anything to appease Russia,” Grassley said.

USA Today reporters Marina Pitofsky and David Jackson contributed to this report.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa US Rep. Zach Nunn critical of Donald Trump's NATO comments