The US will withdraw if its allies do not contribute more financially to the alliance, US President-elect Donald Trump said in his first interview since winning the November election, as he reiterated his pledge to reduce aid to the his war with .
Excerpts from that interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press show aired Sunday.
“If they pay their bill and treat us fairly, the answer is: of course, I will stay in NATO” said the next US president. Asked if he would consider leaving the North Atlantic Treaty otherwise, he replied “certainly”.
On the Russian-Ukrainian war, he said that Kiev should “in all likelihood” to expect less help from Washington once he returns to the White House. It is noted, of course, that the interview was taped before Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday.
“Yes, probably, certainly”the next US president responded to the question of whether Ukraine should prepare for a reduction in US aid after January 20. Soon after, Trump reiterated that he would try to end the war with Russia.
Referring to immigration, Trump said his goal is to deport all immigrants who are in the US illegally during his four-year term. But he wants to have an agreement later on for the so-called “Dreamers”, those people who were brought to the US by their parents when they were still children, grew up and studied in the country.
The Republican tycoon also said he plans on his first day in office to end “soil justice,” the right of anyone born in the U.S. to become a citizen. This right is protected by an amendment to the Constitution.
“You know if someone sets foot, just one foot (…) on our soil: Congratulations, you are now a US citizen”he argued, even though the right to land only applies to those born in the country. “We’re going to stop it because it’s ridiculous”he said.
When asked how he plans to repeal something enshrined in the Constitution, Trump declined to elaborate.
Trump also said he would not seek to replace Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell once he takes office. Powell was appointed to this position by Trump in early 2018 to replace Janet Yellen, but later disagreed with him over the Fed’s economic policy. Democratic President Joe Biden kept Powell in that position.
On the hot topic of abortion, Trump said in his interview that he would not limit the availability of the abortion pill.
