Opinion

Trump’s frightening threat about NATO

Throughout his first term, our nation saw Mr. Trump employ an isolationist, nativist mentality, embracing human-rights-abusing dictators such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un while shunning and disparaging the leaders of our longtime allies. His recent comments that he would “encourage” Russia to attack NATO allies without fear of a U.S. response is more than troubling; it’s disqualifying from the presidency.

When our world is so fragile, we need a commander in chief who firmly stands against autocracy and for democracy. The former president is not that person, and shame on us if we refuse to see that.

Kiran Bhatia, Brookline, Mass.

On Feb. 10, former president Donald Trump said that if a NATO country had not spent 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense, he would not only refuse to defend the NATO member if it were attacked; he would also encourage an attack.

I expected a mass outcry following the announcement, but, in my view, the pushback has been dangerously muted. In fact, the lack of an outcry is itself an encouragement to Russia to attack.

For all the complaints about aid to Ukraine, the fact remains that Ukraine is fighting for us. If Russia conquers Ukraine, Poland is next and the NATO Article 5 pledge is on the line. It is only the threat of a united opposition to an attack on Poland — or Finland or Estonia — that provides some assurance that Europe will not refight World War II.

I am frightened — and so should Europe be — that there is minimal outcry over Mr. Trump’s express encouragement of Russian aggression.

Katherine Davies, Bethesda

Former president Donald Trump’s latest absurdity — encouraging Russian leaders to do “whatever the hell they want” to low-paying NATO members — is further evidence that he could be the Democrats’ best electoral asset. I find it unlikely that the American electorate, writ large, will ever again allow Mr. Trump to be in a position to act upon his myriad lunacies. By giving vent to them, he reminds the electorate of his twisted mind-set.

As a loyal Republican of some 84 years, I have confidence, despite Mr. Trump and his loudly caterwauling, cowardly, lemming-like base, that the essential goodness and common sense of the American people will prevail in the general election.

Mr. Trump is a demonstrable liar, loser and generally reprehensible human being. His active desire to return to the White House should nauseate, if not scare the hell out of, the majority of thinking Americans.

Grant Heggie, Nellysford, Va.