Meanwhile, Donald Trump also doubled down on his calls to defend NATO allies only if they have spent enough of their GDP on defense.
Donald Trump: “These stupid people, they say, 'But we have a treaty.' They say, 'What would happen if Russia, somebody attacks?' I say, 'I don't know. Have they paid? Have they paid? Have they paid? Tell me: Have they paid?’ 'Well, they haven't paid, but we have a treaty.’ I say, 'They have a treaty, too. They have to pay.'”
Trump’s position squarely contradicts that of his running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, who told PBS NewsHour last week, “We’ll uphold our treaty obligations, including the mutual defense agreement that is NATO.”