Growing Calls for U.S. Withdrawal from NATO Gain Traction Among Republicans and Elon Musk
A movement advocating for the United States to withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is gaining momentum, fueled by prominent Republicans and Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla. This push comes amidst ongoing challenges in negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine and longstanding concerns about the financial burden shouldered by the U.S. within the alliance.
While former President Donald Trump reportedly considered pulling the U.S. out of NATO during his first term, the idea has now surfaced more explicitly in public discourse. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) has emerged as a vocal proponent of withdrawal, arguing that the U.S. should disengage if NATO members proceed with critical discussions without American involvement.
Lee voiced his concerns in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that if "NATO is moving on without the U.S.," then the U.S. should reciprocate by "move[ing] on from NATO." He has also playfully suggested potential names for the burgeoning movement, such as "AmerExit" or "NATexit," drawing parallels to "Brexit," the term used to describe the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union.
In a follow-up post, Lee questioned the perceived benefits of the U.S.’s disproportionate financial contribution to NATO, stating, "It’s a good thing our NATO allies give us such favorable trade terms based on the fact that we provide a disproportionate share of their security needs Oh wait ….They don’t."
Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) echoed similar sentiments, characterizing NATO as a "Cold War relic" that should be relegated to a museum display.
The growing movement received a further boost when Elon Musk, now reportedly heading the Trump administration’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), expressed his support for withdrawing from NATO. Responding to a post advocating for the U.S. to detach itself from both NATO and the United Nations, Musk simply stated, "I agree."
This renewed push for withdrawal coincides with stalled negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has actively sought NATO membership for his country following the Russian invasion in 2022, a move perceived by some as escalating tensions with Russia. Adding to the complexities, President Trump reportedly dismissed Zelenskyy from the White House after a meeting intended to broker a deal, stating that Zelenskyy would be welcome back when prepared to pursue peace.
However, withdrawing the U.S. from NATO would require Congressional approval. A bipartisan provision embedded in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Bill stipulates that the executive branch must secure the support of 60 senators or pass legislation in Congress to initiate a withdrawal. This provision was championed by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), now serving as Trump’s Secretary of State.
Scott Anderson, a fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, suggests that this provision could lead to a legal confrontation if the executive branch attempts to withdraw from NATO unilaterally. "The logic is, essentially, you’re teeing up a fight if the president tries to do this without Congress… it specifically does enact exactly that sort of prohibition and says, essentially, we’re going to litigate this out and take it to the Supreme Court if you try and do this, which is the most Congress can do," Anderson explained.
Despite this legal hurdle, the question remains of who would possess the legal standing to challenge a withdrawal effort. Anderson suggested that service members or individuals owning property in NATO countries might be able to argue that they would be directly affected by the withdrawal, thereby granting them the right to challenge the move in court.
While the debate intensifies, public opinion on NATO remains generally favorable, although support has slightly waned in recent years. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in May 2024 revealed that 58% of Americans hold a favorable view of the military alliance, a decrease of four percentage points compared to the previous year.
Against this backdrop, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has urged NATO allies to increase their defense contributions. Speaking in Brussels in February, Hegseth stated, "NATO should pursue these goals as well. NATO is a great alliance, the most successful defense alliance in history, but to endure for the future, our partners must do far more for Europe’s defense. We must make NATO great again."
JD Vance has also taken a prominent role in defending Trump’s foreign policy stance amid tensions with Zelenskyy.
Data indicates that the U.S. currently spends approximately 3.3% of its GDP on defense, totaling $880 billion annually, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The U.S. contributes over 50% of NATO’s overall funding, while other allies, such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, contribute between 4% and 8%.
Hegseth has advocated for European allies to raise their defense spending to between 2% and 5% of their respective gross domestic product, a position that Trump has long supported.
NATO, comprising more than 30 countries, was established in 1949 as a bulwark against the expansion of the Soviet Union. The growing calls for U.S. withdrawal raise fundamental questions about the future of the alliance and the role of the United States in global security. These questions demand careful consideration as the debate unfolds in Congress and the public sphere. The outcome will have profound implications for transatlantic relations, European security, and the broader international order.
