Hillary Clinton suggested former President Donald Trump would pull the country out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if he is re-elected.
Clinton made her remark while speaking at a panel at the Munich Security Conference in Germany this weekend. Her response was in regards to whether if Europe could rely on the United States as an ally.
“Obvious point to make about Donald Trump is take him literally and seriously. He means what he says. People did not take him literally and serious in 2016,” said Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee that year. “Now he is telling us what he intends to do and people who try to wish it away, rush it away, are living in an alternative reality."
Clinton suggested Trump was willing to do anything to become an "absolute authoritarian leader" if the opportunity arose.
“And he will pull us out of NATO," she warned.
“Because he will just not fund our obligations. So we may be there, you know, ‘in name only,’” she continued. “So take it very seriously and continue to do what Europe needs to do on its own.”
Earlier this month, Trump said he would not assist fellow NATO nations who were financially delinquent in their obligations to the organization during a rally in Conway, South Carolina.
Trump recounted a meeting with foreign leaders regarding his stance on NATO.
“You didn’t pay?” Trump said he responded. “You’re delinquent. No, I would not protect you."
"In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want," he continued. "You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.”
While in Germany, Clinton also referred to Trump as a "wannabe dictator" in reference to his South Carolina remarks.
"He's so enamored of Putin," Clinton said of Trump. "He's a wannabe dictator. He's told us that repeatedly."
"He told us the other day, 'Let's basically get out of NATO,' and encouraged Putin to do whatever he wants to do," she added.
"How absurd a statement that is cannot even be measured because you are essentially giving a green light to a murderous, brutal dictator," Clinton said.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Trump's last remaining challenger in the Republican primary, also took issue with Trump's comment during an appearance on CNN.
"He said that he would side with Putin and not defend NATO allies if they weren't pulling their weight," Haley said. "He said that he would encourage Putin to invade any countries not pulling their weight."
"That means Donald Trump is siding with a thug who kills his political opponents," she added.
