WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Tuesday called Donald Trump’s recent comments on NATO “dangerous” and questioned the former president’s failure to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable. the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
In video clip posted on the president’s X accountBiden emphasized the importance of NATO’s Article 5 agreement, saying it is important not only for the United States but also for the rest of the world.
“The whole world knows that if any enemy attacks us, our NATO allies will be behind us, and they know that we will be behind them,” Biden said.
“And that’s why what the former president said is so dangerous,” Biden said Trump’s latest comment He said he would encourage Russia to “do what they want” with NATO countries that do not pay their defense share.
Biden said that Trump’s words “are a statement that has been heard around the world and has seen nothing but encourage bad behavior.” The president then said he was horrified to hear that Trump did not blame Putin for Navalny’s death in prison last week.
“Instead, Trump said that Navalny’s death made him realize how bad America is. He said, ‘We are a nation in decline, a failed nation,'” Biden said. “Why does Trump always blame America? Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death. Why can’t Trump say that? Putin is responsible.”
To stand up to Putin, Biden said he “must act now” to pass the House. senate-approved A $95 billion emergency package This would provide much-needed aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
Trump’s The first public reaction to Navalny’s death came on Monday, three days later the Russian prison service announced it. Trump wrote on Truth Social that the Russian opposition leader’s death “made me more aware of what’s going on in our country,” which he appeared to compare to his own legal troubles.
Former president He made a similar comment during a Fox News town hall Tuesday night and Navalny should not have returned to Russia after being poisoned in 2020.
“He was a very brave boy because he came back. He could have stayed away, and frankly, he probably would have been better off staying out of the country and talking, as opposed to having to come back, because people thought it might happen, and it did,” Trump said.
It’s the Biden administration to prepareEng disclose major sanctions On Friday, Russia should be held responsible for Navalny’s death.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Tuesday that Navalny’s death, which he said was “assassination,” and Russia’s weekend seizure of a town in eastern Ukraine are examples of why Congress should pass an aid bill.
“These two events are a reminder of how high the stakes are and why we need Congress to take urgent action to stand up to Putin and this National Security Supplement bill,” he said.
Caryn Littler contributed.