Trump praises NATO for stronger defense spending after his demands

Trump amplifies an op-ed crediting his push for burden-sharing with $1.2 trillion in new European and Canadian defense spending since 2017.

First Published: July 7, 2026, 4:00 PM EST

WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald Trump has amplified an op-ed crediting his demands with strengthening NATO, by mentioning the source (see washingtonexaminer) on truthsocial on July 7, 2026 at 10:51 AM EST.

Here is the full post on truthsocial: “Thank you! NATO is stronger because Trump demanded more: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4.6 million/shared-security-interests-nato-stronger-because-trump-demanded-more/”

The op-ed argues that Europe and Canada have added $1.2 trillion in new defense spending since Trump first took office in 2017 (see washingtonexaminer). NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called the increase the “Trump Trillion” (see washingtonexaminer). The piece frames the alliance as stronger because Trump insisted that every member carry its fair share of the burden rather than rely on American taxpayers.

The op-ed says allies last year in The Hague agreed to a new standard of spending 5% of gross domestic product on defense and defense-related investments, replacing an older target (see washingtonexaminer). It states that increased European and Canadian purchases of American-made defense equipment support more than 112,000 American jobs, with another 83,000 U.S. jobs tied to European defense investments in the country (see washingtonexaminer).

The piece ties the spending push to current conflicts, citing Trump’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List and Secretary General Rutte’s account of between 4,000 and 5,000 U.S. aircraft sorties supporting Operation Epic Fury from bases across Europe (see washingtonexaminer). NATO now brings together 32 countries, and the author urges the upcoming Ankara summit to turn spending commitments into real capabilities and to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin (see washingtonexaminer).

In the last 30 days, 83 of 547 Trump posts were on topic “Foreign Policy”.