Trump’s NATO comments stir up a political storm as Russia keeps quiet
Former U.S. head of state and presidential candidate Donald Trump stoked the ire of U.S. lawmakers and international leaders, after remarking he would not protect NATO countries from Russian attacks if they lag on their membership payments. Speaking at a rally in South Carolina on Saturday, Trump said that, as president, he warned NATO allies that he "would encourage" Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" to a member country that didn't meet its defense spending guidelines. Trump, who has a long history of criticizing the transatlantic military alliance, recounted a time when an unspecified president of a NATO member challenged him on his threat not to defend them from a p