Trump Forces Europe to Defend Itself
Almost all NATO member states agreed to spend five percent of GDP on defense.
Anthony Constantini
June 28, 2025
_WHAT’S HAPPENING_
Eight years ago, President Donald Trump was treated like something of an interregnum by his European counterparts — someone to wait out so they could return to the days when America paid for their defense.
This week’s NATO summit proved that Trump is the new normal. Leaders fell over themselves to compliment the president while agreeing to Trump’s biggest demand: that NATO members spend more on defense.