Senate Passes Motion Supporting NATO While Trump Criticizes Allies At Summit

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - JULY 11: US President Donald Trump is welcomed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the 2018 NATO Summit at NATO headquarters on July 11, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. Leaders from NATO mem... BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - JULY 11: US President Donald Trump is welcomed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the 2018 NATO Summit at NATO headquarters on July 11, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. Leaders from NATO member and partner states are meeting for a two-day summit, which is being overshadowed by strong demands by U.S. President Trump for most NATO member countries to spend more on defense. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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The Senate voted decidedly in favor of a motion supporting NATO on Tuesday while President Donald Trump heads into the European summit, spouting off insults and accusations at America’s allies.

According to a Tuesday Hill report, Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) were the only lawmakers to vote against the nonbinding motion.

The motion was proposed by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), who called America’s commitment to NATO “ironclad.”

Trump has been sounding off on his many perceived grievances with NATO as he begins the summit, taking issue with a defense spending agreement he does not understand and complaining that Americans are taking on a lopsided burden within the alliance. He has also angered some of the U.S.’ closest allies by levying steep tariffs.   

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Notable Replies

  1. Lee and Rando voted NO? Are THEY Russian agents? Or just nuts (which we knew)?

  2. According to a Tuesday Hill report, Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) were the only lawmakers to vote against the nonbinding motion.

    Rand Paul famously questions why ice cream has to be cold.
  3. “non-binding” = “no resistance-to-Trump skin in this game”

  4. What’s Paul’s problem? NATO refuse to help tidy up his lawn or something?

  5. Hmmm, seven of the GOP Senators who voted yes were in Moscow on our nation’s birthday kumbayaing with the Russian parliament.

    Actions vs. words, etc.

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