NATO leaders share smirks and eyerolls as Trump lectures them on paying their fair share

NATO leaders.
(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/MSNBC)

President Trump lectured his fellow NATO members on Thursday about the United States being among just five member nations currently meeting spending targets. "NATO members must finally contribute their fair share and meet their financial obligations," Trump admonished. "But 23 of the 28 member nations are still not paying what they should be paying and what they are supposed to be paying for their defense. This is not fair to the people and taxpayers of the United States."

Trump significantly did not take any pains to express the United States' commitment to Article 5, which requires NATO members to aid other member countries if attacked. The alliance has invoked Article 5 just once, the day after the September 11 attacks.

"If NATO countries made their full and complete contributions then NATO would be even stronger than it is today, especially from the threat of terrorism," Trump went on to the sour and sarcastic expressions of the other members. Watch below. Jeva Lange

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.