The president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, said Sunday that he might consider leaving NATO if the country doesn’t receive a “fair deal” from other member nations.

In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump stated that the United States would stay in the alliance only if allied countries “pay their bills.” 

During the conversation, the Republican leader also confirmed that his incoming administration plans to reduce aid to Ukraine, a country that has received strong support from Joe Biden’s government since the Russian invasion.

“Possibly. Yes, probably, for sure,” Trump said when asked about financial and military assistance to the European nation. The interview was recorded Friday, before Trump held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Paris over the weekend. 

Later in the interview, Trump reiterated his intention to deport all undocumented immigrants in the United States and end birthright citizenship, a right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

“It has to be done,” he said, indicating he plans to carry out the measure through an executive action, highlighting a key part of his immigration agenda. 

The debate over funding

Trump also addressed NATO members’ financial commitments, noting that the alliance agreed in 2014 that countries should spend at least 2% of GDP on defense. However, the president-elect has suggested that the ideal figure should be even 4%, pressuring allies to increase their contributions. 

With this interview, Trump gave his first formal televised remarks since the November elections, making clear the direction of his future foreign policy and immigration priorities.

His stance marks a shift from the Biden administration, particularly regarding support for Ukraine and the United States’ approach to international alliances, raising questions and expectations among both allies and adversaries.