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Trump criticizes Washington for wanting additional $40B for Ukraine, says make Europeans pay more

Trump returns to a familiar argument that North Atlantic Treaty member countries are not paying their fair share

May 12, 2022 4:12pm

Updated: May 13, 2022 9:13am

Former President Trump on Thursday criticized a request by President Biden for an additional $40 billion in aid to Ukraine that is now working its way through Congress.

"Why are we giving more than 40 billion to Ukraine while Europe by comparison is giving very little, and they are getting more impacted by a Russian invasion, obviously, than the US," Trump posted on the social media platform Truth.

The additional money will go toward helping Ukraine defend against Russia's months-long invasion.

Biden's requested spending package on Wednesday passed in the House and now goes to the Senate. 

Trump in the post returned to a familiar argument he made when president, that North Atlantic Treaty Organization member nations are not paying their fair share.

He threatened during his successful 2016 presidential campaign and during his four years in office to pull the U.S. out of NATO, in an apparent effort to get the member nations to pay.

"I made NATO rich by getting European nations to 'pay up.' Most were delinquent and neither not paying or paying much less than they agreed to," Trump also said in the post. "Get Europe and others to finally pay their fair share. China and others are smiling all the way to the bank."