US President Donald Trump's plan to sell weapons to NATO for Ukraine has provoked strong criticism from some of his most loyal "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) supporters, who argue it contradicts his pledge to end US involvement in foreign conflicts.
On Monday, Trump announced the weapons deal, stating that NATO allies would purchase US-manufactured arms to support Ukraine. He also issued a 50-day ultimatum to Russia, threatening additional tariffs if no peace agreement is reached in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Key Trump allies, including Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and former strategist Steve Bannon, have publicly opposed the move. Greene, a staunch isolationist from Georgia, told *The New York Times* that the decision undermines the anti-foreign war stance she campaigned on. "This is what everybody voted for," she said, expressing scepticism that US taxpayers would avoid footing the bill through indirect costs like NATO contributions or training missions. In a social media post, she criticised "backdoor deals through NATO."
Bannon, speaking on his *War Room* podcast, described the Ukraine conflict as a "European war" that should be handled by Europe. "We're about to arm people we have literally no control over," he warned, calling the situation a "dangerous" escalation.
The White House has defended the decision, with Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly stating that Trump's base "trust in Trump" and support his "peace through strength" approach. A recent poll cited by a White House official suggests nearly two-thirds of Trump voters back continued arms support for Ukraine.
Trump has emphasised that NATO will cover the costs of the weapons, not the US, and praised the alliance's recent commitment to increase defence spending to 5% of economic output. In an exclusive BBC interview on Monday, following a meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte, Trump reaffirmed his support for NATO’s collective defence principle and expressed disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin, though he noted he was "not done" pursuing a deal to end the war.
The controversy highlights tensions within Trump’s base, with some supporters viewing the weapons deal as a step towards deeper US involvement in a conflict they believe should be Europe’s responsibility.
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