ListNook

reddittorbrigade Apr 1, 2026 +82

Donald Trump is a Russian asset. Everything worked according to Putin's plan.

82

Nervous-Leading9415 Apr 1, 2026 +1

The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) blocks the President from withdrawing from NATO without two-thirds of the Senate or an act of Congress.

1

jjaime2024 Apr 1, 2026 -4

Putin needs the states to stay in NATO if they pull out its all over for Russia.

-4

maikuxblade Apr 1, 2026 +3

It’s more like pulling out of NATO is a late game play. I’m not seeing the long play but short term it does de-stabilize the alliance

3

xixipinga Apr 1, 2026 +3

The sooner europe realize the US will not defend them from the russian empire the better, the US has been supporting russian imperialism by negligence since 2008s georgia invasion. If europe had their interests first russia would already had collapsed by now

3

maikuxblade Apr 1, 2026 +5

US definitely shoulders a good deal of blame and quite a goddamn lot under Trump but Germany has been buying Russian gas for a lot longer than the geopolitical realities made sense also. We need to come to grips with the fact that our alliances are compromised by greed and bad actors

5

uniklyqualifd Apr 1, 2026 +29

He basically left NATO in the first month of this term. He proved that the US couldn't be relied on. The rest is paper.

29

improvthismoment Apr 1, 2026 +1

Exactly this. An alliance is only worth as much as the trust it is built on, which in this case is gone already.

1

_L_R_S_ Apr 1, 2026 +19

Pure political theatre. Like Hegseth getting set up for the fall, he's trying to frame NATO not supporting him in an illegal war of conquest as a reason it didn't succeed. To leave NATO he'd need to convince 2/3 of the Senate that it's a sound, sensible, strategic decision for the US, or get Congress to change the law to mean he can do it by Executive order. Trump has left NATO during his tenure anyway. Nobody has any confidence he'd honour his treaty obligations. However no long term damage is done. Like when the US didn't support the UK over Suez or the Falklands, or the UK didn't support the US over Vietnam, the adults in the room didn't question the long term benefit of NATO for the US or UK. But as long as the US remains inside then once a grown up gets elected back into the White House (from either party) it's there to be built on. Even De Gaulle wasn't dumb enough to fully pull out of NATO when he removed the French from the military command structure of NATO. He kept France inside article 5 and other aspects. But then De Gaulle was actually a General with military experience. Not a failed businessman with huge personality disorders.

19

Single-Refuse174 Apr 1, 2026 +2

“To leave Nato he’d need to convince 2/3 of the senate that its a sound…” No he needs to convince 2/3 of the senate that it’s in their self interest and that they’ll be punished otherwise

2

Silent-Storms Apr 1, 2026 +1

Not likely. He's never been weaker than now, since maybe the 2016 primary days.

1

Single-Refuse174 Apr 1, 2026 +1

I’d hope it isn’t likely, but I have been let down too many times already

1

Silent-Storms Apr 1, 2026 +1

Of all the things to get two thirds of the Senate in favor, this ain't it. He can't even browbeat them into passing his stupid voter if shit.

1

Smaynard6000 Apr 1, 2026 +1

2/3 of the Senate would be double-digit numbers of Democrats on top of all Republicans. That's not happening. I'm not sure he could get a simple majority.

1

CantFeelMyToesAgain Apr 1, 2026 +1

I agree, I think he’s doing it because it’s April 1st, theatre and he’s just a pissy brat they’re getting fisted by Iran. Won’t be shocked if they do leave, but I don’t think many would care as they basically are now enemies to NATO

1

improvthismoment Apr 1, 2026 +1

*Trump has left NATO during his tenure anyway. Nobody has any confidence he'd honour his treaty obligations.* Exactly this. NATO is already dead in all but name. NATO, or any alliance, is only worth as much as the trust it is built on, which in this case is gone. *However no long term damage is done.* Hard disagree on this one. Who can trust the US again after having elected Trump twice? Who is to say that they won't do the same, or worse, every 4 years? It will take a generation or more to rebuild trust in the US. *But as long as the US remains inside then once a grown up gets elected back into the White House (from either party) it's there to be built on.* No one can rely on that happening and base their entire national security strategy on that anymore. US voters have shown twice now that they are capable of electing someone like Trump. What is to prevent a third, fourth, fifth episode....????

1

_L_R_S_ Apr 1, 2026 +1

I'd ask you to reflect on the lessons of history and NATO. France, Britain and Israel try to seize Suez in 1956 and the US doesn't back them (ironic given Iran). Not a NATO mission and NATO survives. France unilaterally pulls out of the NATO military command structure under De Gaulle, but stays in NATO under Article 5. It's not till Sarkozy that they go back in. NATO survived this. No European nation supports the US in Vietnam. NATO survives US doesn't publicly support the UK when the Falklands are invaded. In fact the Secretary of State called for no force to be used, and both parties to ceasefire. Not a NATO issue and NATO survived. Lots of disagreements over the Balkans. UN mission in the end. US refused to support the rest of the world with ground troops. NATO survived. Never mind the bombing of the Chinese Embassy. NATO steps up and supports the US with 1000 non-US troops killed in Afghanistan supporting the mission. Governments come and go, and populist leaders knee jerking come and go. In another world now would be exactly the time for Putin to flex and test NATO. Only he's bogged down in Ukraine and can't spare the capacity. The best estimate is it will take Putin till 2030 to get the Russian armed forces anywhere near back to capability, and that assumes the Ukraine war stops today. Trump will be long gone before then. So yes, NATO is currently not something you'd 100% trust to defend you if you were Norway, Finland or Poland. You're right. But playing the long game, the non-US members in NATO have the GDP to cover the loss of the US (eventually). Russia will never have the strategic reach the Soviet Union had, and so it's not winding the clock back. If the US were to walk out of NATO it would make Brexit look like a mature and sensible decision. It's clear Trump can't cope with the pressure of his failed Iran war. The pressure he'd come under from the military/industrial lobby in the US would be insane if he proposed leaving NATO. Never mind his own party who he'd have to bully and convince. This is were the adults in the room play the long game, like they did with de Gaulle. Leaders come and go.

1

improvthismoment Apr 1, 2026 +1

Playing the long game, the US is very capable of electing more Trump-like presidents, or worse. Democracy in the US is in serious decline, and it will take a generation (best case scenario) to repair the damage and getting the US back on track. So until then, gambling on a sane or "adult" US president is foolish at this point.

1

_L_R_S_ Apr 1, 2026 +1

In that regard I agree. Trump has squandered the hard won credit the US nation had with its allies for his own purposes. He has spent money he didn't earn, and was in fact earned with the deaths of US and allied soldiers. I agree that viewed externally democracy seems dead in the USA. It's not the fact that it has the image of democracy, it's the fact that there are no checks and balances. The President appoints and warps the judiciary to their whim. They appoint unqualified sycophants to serious positions that are rubber stamped by more sycophants. On what planet could unelected people with the CV's of Neom, Patel or Hegseth hold office? Not in a functioning democracy.

1

improvthismoment Apr 1, 2026 +1

So if you agree on that, then how can any other democracy continue to base its national security on a US-centric NATO alliance?

1

_L_R_S_ Apr 1, 2026 +1

I said democracy "seems" dead. That's purely because of the current incumbent of the White House. The structural foundations of the USA hard wire freedom into the culture of the nation. Trump reminds me of Boris Johnson. In the UK he was a pro EU politician from a class of society that was very pro EU. He then sees a selfish opportunity to jump onto something he doesn't actually believe in himself to grab power. This is Trump. He doesn't believe in freedom. He tries to control everything. Just look at how he treats the press. How he lies. No person of character or values would lie like Trump lies. Especially not representing their nation as a Head of State. He's not a Conservative. He's a capitalist opportunist. This means that at some point his lack of values and political principles was always going to be his undoing. The US doesn't have a conformist culture like Russia. So Trump aping Putin's approach could never work in the US. The failure of democracies vs authoritarian regimes is failing to take the long view. China and Saudi Arabia can play the long game. They know for certain who will be in power in 5 or 10 years time (If not the person then the policies). So in certain circumstances democracies have to take the long view. The US is a society based on western values of individual freedom and minimal government intervention in your life. That is worth allying with. Were Trump to be "elected" a third time, or the elections clearly rigged or stolen then that's the point other democracies go time out. In the long history of the USA, this is minor hole in the road. If they turn it into a crater that's their choosing. Same for leaving NATO. The USA won't be pushed out of NATO. They will have to leave, and if they do, then they will live with the consequences. Just how the UK suffered leaving the EU after a populist convinced people they were being taken for a ride.

1

improvthismoment Apr 1, 2026 +1

*The structural foundations of the USA hard wire freedom into the culture of the nation.... The US is a society based on western values of individual freedom and minimal government intervention in your life* Hard disagree. The US was founded on the contradiction of enslavement while pretending to be a democracy. That contradiction was never resolved, and there is a direct thread from enslavement to three fifths compromise and electoral college (intentionally disproportionate representation) to the US Civil War to Jim Crow to MAGA. I grew up in a former Confederate state, I saw it first hand. It is no coincidence we saw Confederate flags at the J6 riot. Trump is just a symptom of all of this. As the saying goes, "The US isn't the way it is because Trump is the way he is. Trump is the way he is because the US is the way it is.

1

_L_R_S_ Apr 1, 2026 +1

That's actually a fair point about slavery. I think I was meaning the way the US elects people in public life at a level that so many other countries don't like sherrif's, DA's etc. But that is a good point about freedom only being freedom if it's my freedom.

1

TheRuneMeister Apr 1, 2026 +1

It doesn’t seem like Congress is any hindrance at this point…

1

_L_R_S_ Apr 1, 2026 +1

They might not be for some two bit bill, but the decimation of the most successful military alliance since WW2 and one that stepped up in 2001 to fight with the US when it was attacked is a big ask. If you had defence contractors in your state selling weapons to NATO countries would you want to argue to pull out? About $80 billion dollars are year are the weapons sales from the US to other NATO countries. That's about 1/3 of all US arms sales globally. Putting aside the strategic folly of the decision, does Congress want to argue that crashing that market is a good idea? Yes some would be maintained. But not for long. The EU can replicate and develop every single technology used by the US. Some will take longer than others but it's possible. It wasn't the US who got a recent drone contract from Saudi Arabia. It was Ukraine.

1

Manmetbaard Apr 1, 2026 +6

Hé is playing for a domestic audience. He wants to blame NATO that in his eyes didn’t come to rescue him from his own failure and defeat. The MAGA crowd needs a scapegoat as nothing is ever their own fault

6

Silent-Storms Apr 1, 2026 +1

This. It's half distraction half whining.

1

Auspectress Apr 1, 2026 +1

And that is very scary and is like opening pandoras box. That is what happens in my country where POLEXIT though unsupported is welded by far right. In few years you guys can have some post MAGA leader who will say they will leave NATO as it failed USA or like that

1

TheRuneMeister Apr 1, 2026 +1

This is not new though. He has been saying these things all along.

1

phosdick Apr 1, 2026 +4

An April Fools Day joke against the world... by the world's most dangerous Fool.

4

Upstairs_Ad5443 Apr 1, 2026 +2

Every day is April fools with a Pin-Head POTUS in office.

2

phosdick Apr 1, 2026 +1

Especially a ***Pin-Head POTUS*** with a dangerous comb-over.

1

Ticksdonthavelymph Apr 1, 2026 +14

He can’t. He’s not king

14

oliviashrewtonbong Apr 1, 2026 +9

Lmao of course he is. Anyone that thinks otherwise is in denial.

9

NeilDeCrash Apr 1, 2026 +13

US already has insane power vested in one person, the president, compared to other democracies. He is currently pretty much a dictator who can executive order anything he wants. The US is currently at war with Iran just because he wanted, nobody else had a say in it.

13

A-guy8 Apr 1, 2026 +8

Well, from the outside many of us see the US as an emerging dictatorship. Trump has his people in the US supreme court and his opponents are silenced by threats and fear. So yes, for the time being, Trump is very much "King", and it the American people aren't careful, that will transition into permanence.

8

Accurate-Bird1142 Apr 1, 2026 +10

He can’t bulldoze the East wing either, but he did. Who could imagine masked ICE thugs shooting an American citizen in the face with absolute impunity? It happened. He named the Kennedy Center after himself!

10

Silent-Storms Apr 1, 2026 +1

Those are things he has direct control over, it's not the same.

1

Accurate-Bird1142 Apr 1, 2026 +1

In each case, he used a workaround to do something that he should not have had the authority to do. He can deploy his bootlickers to make this happen.

1

Silent-Storms Apr 1, 2026 +1

You can't deploy bootlickers to change a legal relationship. NATO is a treaty, not a physical object.

1

improvthismoment Apr 1, 2026 +1

Trump has direct control over the military. NATO is a military alliance. It is 100% about what would the US military do in a situation of common defence. Without the military, NATO is a meaningless piece of paper. And Trump has direct control of that.

1

Silent-Storms Apr 1, 2026 +1

He can not honor the obligations, but it doesn't change the legal status of the treaty. If you are married, you can't just declare divorce and expect that to have legal effect.

1

improvthismoment Apr 1, 2026 +1

But none of that matters in any practical terms. If I am married but my wife moves out and takes the dog with her, who cares what the marriage certificate says?

1

Silent-Storms Apr 1, 2026 +1

The government. Anyone else you might want to marry. It means that any "withdrawal" by decree is only "effective" until someone else decrees were back in it. Your argument is that NATO never mattered in the first place.

1

improvthismoment Apr 1, 2026 +1

NATO mattered when there was trust among alliance members that all members, especially the US, would fulfill its alliance obligations. My marriage mattered when we loved each other. Both of those things are gone now. *The government. Anyone else you might want to marry.* So what. That is near irrelevant. I can move in and have a common law committed relationship with my next partner. Maybe it matters for tax purposes, if you live in a country where you file taxes jointly with a spouse (I do not). But even if true, that is pretty low on the priority list for what matters most in a relationship.

1

improvthismoment Apr 1, 2026 +1

If my wife moves out, the only thing left is to argue (or not) about the custody and property. The marriage is effectively dead, regardless of whether there is an official legal divorce or not.

1

Silent-Storms Apr 1, 2026 +1

So what actual effect did getting married have?

1

improvthismoment Apr 1, 2026 +1

It was nice for when it lasted. It's over now. Same with NATO.

1

improvthismoment Apr 1, 2026 +1

Why do we keep using "king" to mean all powerful? It's totally anachronistic. Trump is far more powerful in the US than King Charles in the UK, or than most other monarchs in 2026.

1

Tony2030 Apr 1, 2026 +4

And then he won't be able to veto when the rest of the key players decide to band together and kick the shit out of Russia. Great move, dope.

4

jjaime2024 Apr 1, 2026 +1

You can hear Putin scream don't do that DON.

1

No_Friend4042 Apr 1, 2026 +3

Trump pulling another temper tantrum... I don't think he realizes that the US is the only NATO country to invoke Article 5 (after 9-11)... Trump is nothing but a disaster for humanity

3

jaywastaken Apr 1, 2026 +4

The us already can't be relied on for anything with this current administration. Whether they are in or out is a paper exercise because we already know if a nato ally is attacked by Russia the US is as likely to side with Russia as NATO. F****** traitors.

4

SlowRunner2026 Apr 1, 2026 +2

Stupid is as stupid does.

2

Responsible_Meal Apr 1, 2026 +2

I wish his father had pulled out.

2

slo1111 Apr 1, 2026 +2

Old news. Old man cheeseburger brains is just on repeat. Wake up, lounge around. Have late morning meeting, executive nap time, play golf, evening entertainment, rage tweet all night, and repeat. Don't even bother watching his pony show tonight for here are the talking points. - won iran - time to leave and let others handle the straits. - Nato is not a loyal arm of the US military, therefore I want to leave And now it is time to fly away after shitting on the board, knocking over the pieces and declaring victory. All while the cult is cheering because the orange huckster makes them feel warm and fuzzy

2

Stoic_cave Apr 1, 2026 +2

Oh okay Putin

2

veryboredatwork Apr 1, 2026 +2

Wish his Dad pulled out

2

Drkocktapus Apr 1, 2026 +1

God if only his dad had thought of pulling out

1

hlksmesh Apr 1, 2026 +1

Biggest crybaby on the planet

1

Nordcorner Apr 1, 2026 +5

I really don't see another option. We can't have the US in the the alliance when they are not committed and consistently destabilize it. Wonder what is going to happen to it though. I would not be surprised when the other members maintain the alliance without the US. I do hope they will kick Teflon Mark, our national Dutch coward, out. He has gone way to far in crawling for the republicans and "daddy".

5

kokeutel Apr 1, 2026 +1

Nato has multiple such members that are not that commited to the alliance. Spain for example didn't agree to the 5% spending. Belgium has been quite reluctant to do anything other than accounting tricks. And lets be honest, Turkey is not interested to protect any other part of Nato than its own area. But for Nato, its beneficial to have all the countries to be part of the discussions if by no other reason, but for all the time they spend in Nato tables, they are not spending in any other table. Can USA still have the leading role even if their commitment decreases is better question.

1

gorgo100 Apr 1, 2026 +4

A huge loss for countries that have relied on Article 5. Like, er....

4

restore_democracy Apr 1, 2026 +3

If only his daddy would have considered pulling out of that hag.

3

Adventurous_Test_296 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Trump has never been about anyone but himself. Anyone around him is nothing but a sycophant. That goes for Rubio and Vance.

1

Eighthfloormeeting Apr 1, 2026 +1

Yes please do, Donald. Don’t repeat your father’s mistake by not pulling out of your mom.

1

TemporarySun314 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Do it then. Americans will see how they can start new wars in the middle east when they have no bases in europe anymore, and everyone starts to treat them like the rogue nation they are. Not that I would be against the US being part of NATO in principle. But nobody needs an "ally" that threatens you, constantly berates you, is completly unreliable and talks about leaving NATO every two weeks. Either leave NATO so that everyone can adopt or shut the f*** up...

1

GG1817 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Treaties are the domain of Congress, no? If so trump can go pound more sand.

1

Silly_Supermarket_21 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Has he ever listened to NATO. He would do what he wanted regardless. Trump is a person who believes bullying and violence wins. I suppose that's all he's got, he's not eloquent or diplomatic. Sad isn't it, is only strength is, what most would say, is a human weakness.

1

Avoidtolls Apr 1, 2026 +1

As predicted. Completely unsurprising. Thank goodness the Media billionaires sanewashed our end times.

1

not2dv8 Apr 1, 2026 +1

He's lucky that NATO didn't pull us out of there with the latest stunt this moron just pulled in the Persian Gulf

1

tweedleduh Apr 1, 2026 +1

Temper Tantrum Trump

1

OtherCommission8227 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Weak. Everybody’s saying so. “Why is he so weak,” they ask me. Everybody. So many people ask me that every day. “Why is Trump such a weak, weak man?”

1

Fast-Analysis-4555 Apr 1, 2026 +1

There must be a mental disorder named after him….So he’s considering pulling from NATO over Iran, a war he started and according to him we won.

1

millershanks Apr 1, 2026 +1

This is funny considering that NATO has been founded by the USA.

1

Andovars_Ghost Apr 1, 2026 +1

That would make NATO more secure for the remaining members.

1

martinjpolakgwf Apr 1, 2026 +1

Say bb to your bases in the EU, then. He just doesn’t get it, huh? Europeans see through his bullshit and they don’t give a f***. European Union is rapidly rearming and Russia is such a joke it can’t do anything. Not to mention, this asshat has pulled out of NATO when he threatened Greenland and unprecedently insulted Europe’s war dead.

1

Retro_Prime Apr 1, 2026 +1

Trump says a lot of things.

1

biopsychosis Apr 1, 2026 +1

It is not appropriate to begin an offensive "conflict" unilaterally (well, with Israel), and then blame the members of your defensive alliance for not supporting your bomb-dropping.

1

Talorc Apr 1, 2026 +1

If this happens it will be the beginning of the end.

1

StrangerFew2424 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Putin will be happy with his little, orange puppet...

1

JerrySizzla Apr 1, 2026 +1

I wish Fred Trump pulled out!

1

JohnSane Apr 1, 2026 +1

Pulling out didnt work for his dad... it won't work now.

1

Shaggy2772 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Just checking to see we all understand: Guy spends weeks dumping on allies in NATO Guy threatens allies in NATO Guy starts WAR of choice with Iran Guy does not consult with NATO Guy says he doesn't need NATO Guy doesn't understand what word "defensive" means Guy gets super defensive Guy angry NATO doesn't save him when he makes colossal mistakes Guy threatens to end NATO alliance Guy doesn't have authority to end NATO alliance This all correct?

1

DeterminedErmine Apr 1, 2026 +1

Wish his freaky lil dad had considered pulling out

1

Gareth009 Apr 1, 2026 +1

He’s just an ignorant man. The essence of NATO is when one member is attacked all are attacked and all will defend. Not when one member attacks all will attack.

1

Fay3fay3 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Wish his Dad had a better pull out game..

1

RochesterThe2nd Apr 1, 2026 +1

Go on then. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. How quickly can you get all your hardware and personnel out of US bases in NATO countries? Quick as you can. Imagine the more favourable terms the rest of NATO will be able to secure when the US has a sane president again, and wants to come back.

1

Prew123 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Leave and see the weapon lobby love you.. lmao. NATO is a paper tiger? Trump is a bluffing tissue.

1

improvthismoment Apr 1, 2026 +1

Doesn't matter. Damage is already done. NATO, or any alliance, is only worth as much as the trust that it is built on. In this case, that is gone now. So a NATO based on the alliance with the US is just a piece of paper at this point. Would be interesting to see if new alliances can form that are more solid.

1

FGforty2 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Jokes on him and his tiny thimble. Nato didn't even know he was inside NATO.

1

MidLifeCrysis75 Apr 1, 2026 +1

Too bad Fred didn’t pull out.

1

mommys-little-cholo Apr 1, 2026 +1

Too bad Fred didn’t pull out of Mary Anne… is a 104th trimester abortion still on the table?

1

Zogfrog Apr 1, 2026

Let it die then. We’ll make a EUTO the very next day, and the Brits can join if they want in.

0

No-Land-7633 Apr 1, 2026 -1

Yes pls do it make it MEGA and instead MAGA shift to MAPA

-1

Trump says he’s considering pulling out of NATO

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