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NATO Prepares for Potential Trump 2024 Win

Donald Trump. Credit | Getty Images

United States: America’s NATO partners intend to increase defense expenditure in anticipation of the possible disruption of a second Donald Trump presidency, with six months until the presidential election. 

Allies Anticipate Trump’s Return, Increase Defense Budgets

According to Oana Lungescu, who served as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s longstanding primary spokesman until last year, the alliance’s 75-year military cooperation is being shielded from any shifting political reality by a funding plan that Stoltenberg is putting together.

Predictability is crucial for both allies and Ukraine, Lungescu told CBS News. “This [plan] relieves the U.S. of some of its organizational burden while still maintaining full oversight,” she stated. 

Stoltenberg’s $107 Billion Aid Package for Ukraine

According to Reuters last month, Stoltenberg has suggested a $107 billion, five-year package of military aid for Ukraine, which would give the larger alliance a more direct involvement in funding. 

The idea called for cutting back on the substantial support from the United States and increasing contributions from European allies to Kyiv’s war effort through the creation of a common Ukraine aid fund. 

Trump’s Stance on NATO Spending

Trump’s first year in office shown that the presumed Republican nominee for president in 2024 is not averse to upending NATO. Calling on friends to increase their defense expenditure is a strategy that a prospective Trump White House would vigorously pursue. Trump stunned America’s allies with his frank criticism of some NATO members’ inability to meet defense payment pledges. 

Donald Trump. Credit | Reuters

Donald Trump. Credit | Reuters

Karoline Leavitt, the national press secretary for the Trump campaign, stated in an email that “President Trump got our allies to increase their NATO spending by demanding they pay up, but Crooked Joe Biden went back to letting them take advantage of the American taxpayer.”

“When President Trump returns to the Oval Office, he will restore peace and rebuild American strength and deterrence on the world stage,” Leavitt stated. 

According to Lungescu, Stoltenberg’s plan would allay Trump’s criticism that NATO partners aren’t doing enough to share the financial load. At the same time, Stoltenberg is working to shield Ukraine from the kind of extreme congressional delays that stalled U.S. aid and weapons money for the first half of the year, primarily due to House Republicans. According to Lungescu, NATO members are also raising their respective defense budgets, but she also noted that American presidents going all the way back to Eisenhower have chastised their partners for not doing enough. Lungescu made this point to CBS News. 

 

NATO’s Financial Commitments and Future Prospects  

As to NATO requirements, member states ought to allocate a minimum of 2% of their GDP towards defense spending in order to sustain the Alliance’s military preparedness. 

NATO admits that the combined GDP of its members “nearly equals that of the U.S.” However, according to NATO’s website, “non-U.S. Allies together spend less than half of what the United States spends on defense.”

With the exception of the United States, only 10 of the 30 other NATO partners had reached the 2% spending promise as of 2023; however, by the end of the year, two-thirds of the allies are predicted to have done so.

“I think by the time we get to the Washington NATO summit in July, we will have updated figures and will be in an even better position in terms of significantly increased defense spending,” predicted Lungescu. 

Donald Trump. Credit | EPA

Donald Trump. Credit | EPA

 

Trump vows to not protect NATO allies who don’t raise their spending. 

\ At a South Carolina campaign event in February, the former president declared that he would support Russia in “doing whatever the hell they want” to NATO partners who fail to contribute a fair amount to the organization. 

 

The Existential Threat of a Second Trump Term 

Trump claimed to have stated, “Absolutely not,” in response to a question from an unidentified NATO leader that began, “If we don’t pay, are you still going to protect us?”

Following his departure from office in January 2021, John Bolton, the former national security adviser to President Trump, has stated that the transatlantic alliance faces an existential threat from another Trump term and that the former president was on the verge of pulling the United States out of NATO at the conclusion of a 2018 summit. 

 

“We owe many [NATO] countries a huge sum of money. At a July 2018 NATO meeting, President Trump stated, “The United States has paid and stepped up like nobody,” adding that “something has to be done.” 

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Trump Hints at Potential Ban on the Abortion Pill in Future Policy 

Donald Trump. Credit | Getty Images

United States: Former President Donald Trump, speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Thursday, said he might consider stopping access to mifepristone, a drug used in medication abortions.  

Possible FDA Action 

When asked by NBC News, Trump mentioned that there are options to change how these drugs are handled, and he didn’t rule out taking action like asking the Food and Drug Administration to remove mifepristone 

“There are many things on a humane basis that you can do outside of that,” Trump added, saying that “you also have to give a vote” to people about abortion. 

Shift in Position 

As reported by NBC news, Trump’s comments Thursday appeared to be a shift from his position in June, when the former president as said in the CNN debate: “I will not block it.” 

Donald Trump. Credit | Getty Images
Donald Trump. Credit | Getty Images

In the response to clarifying the questions that have been asked on the Trump’s position, Karoline Leavitt and the Trump’s campaign’s national press secretary told the NBC news about this. 

As the president Trump said that he wants everybody to vote and, on the issue, reiterating his long-held position of supporting rights and of states to. Make the decisions on abortion. 

Leavitt later clarified that, “As a President Trump had said the numerous times during the press conference and the questions being asked were difficult to hear and his position on the mifepristone remains the same and the Supreme Court unanimously decided on the issue and the matter which is settled. 

Policy and Future Announcements 

The idea of directing the FDA to revoke access to mifepristone is a rare core policy plan in the project 2025 also a 900-plus page document written by conservative groups and organized by the Heritage Foundation that lays out a governing plan for the next GOP presidential administration. 

Recently at a press conference on Thursday Trump was also asked  how he planned all these thing to vote in Florida’s ballot initiative and this fall to expand abortion the access and the former president a Florida resident didn’t say how would vote but hereby also teased a future announcement on that and added that abortion isn’t is a big factor anymore. 

Criticism from Opponents 

However, Harris-Walz campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez also critized the Tumps’ comments in a particular statement this Thursday. 

“Already, women across the country are suffering because of the nightmare Donald Trump unleashed by overturning Roe v. Wade,” she said. 

 “That reality — women forced to the brink of death before receiving the care they need, doctors facing the threat of jail time for doing their jobs, and survivors of rape and incest made to flee their states for basic health care. 

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Kamala Harris Shows How Black Sororities Influence Politics 

Kamala Harris Shows How Black Sororities Influence Politics. Credit | Getty Images

United States:  On July 10, just before Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race, Kamala Harris attended a veritably important event for Alpha Kappa Alpha(AKA) in the Harward University, a major Black sorority she joined in council. 

AKA, innovated in 1908 at Howard University, supports Black women and is one of the most influential sororities in America. Harris’s aunt was also a member in 1950. notorious women like Coretta Scott King, Toni Morrison, and Maya Angelou were part of AKA. In a 2021 Vogue cover, Harris was shown in AKA’s colours and wearing its hand plum choker. 

Harris’s Continued Involvement with Black Sororities 

As reported by The Guardian, since Biden stepped down and became the presumptive nominee, Harris has spoken at more sorority events, including one for Sigma Gamma Rho. There, she addressed comments from Donald Trump questioning her race. Harris feels a strong connection to these events, saying, “When I look out at everyone here, I see family.” 

Kamala Harris Shows How Black Sororities Influence Politics. Credit | Reuters
Kamala Harris Shows How Black Sororities Influence Politics. Credit | Reuters

The Influence of Black Greek Letter Organizations 

Black Greek letter organizations, like AKA, have a huge impact on politics. In 2020, when Biden chose Harris as his vice-presidential pick, AKA members raised a lot of money and helped get voters to the polls through creative campaigns. They used their networks to support voter registration and education, which was crucial for Biden’s election. These organizations, together known as the Divine Nine, have over four million members and significant funds. 

Harris’s Journey and Black Greek Organizations 

Lawrence Ross, an expert on the Divine Nine, explains that these organizations are more than just college groups. They continue to support members throughout their lives and focus on important issues like voter education. Harris’s involvement with AKA is a key part of her identity, like how Barack Obama’s connection with his church shaped his identity. Both Harris and Obama made choices that tied them to a distinctly American form of Black culture. 

The Role of Divine Nine in U.S. History 

Ross points out that the Divine Nine played a very vital and major role in the civil rights movement. Important figures are like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Jesse Jackson were members of these organizations. Harris’s sorority sisters remember her as ambitious and cool, balancing her serious approach to education with a relaxed side. 

Excitement for Harris’s Historic Role 

Harris’s sorority sisters are excited about her being a major political figure and see it as a historic moment. They are committed to supporting her and making sure her impact is recognized, especially in this important election. According to Ross, the Divine Nine’s involvement has been vital for advancing Black civil rights and continues to be influential today. 

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Harris Begins Campaign with Walz as Running Mate 

Tim Walz. Credit | Getty Images

United States: Vice President Kamala Harris is set to appear publicly with her new running mate, Tim Walz, at a rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday. This event will mark or will be identified as the start of a five-day campaign tour across seven key battleground states. 

Tim Walz’s Political Background 

As reported by the telegraph, Tim Walz, who has been chosen as Harris’s running mate, has a notable political history. Elected to a Republican-leaning district in 2006, Walz served nearly 12 years before becoming governor of Minnesota. As governor, he advocated for progressive policies including free school meals, climate change action, and LGBT rights. 

Selection Over Josh Shapiro 

Walz was chosen for the vice-presidential spot over Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania. Some Democrats were concerned that Shapiro’s strong pro-Israel stance might be problematic for the campaign

Vice President Kamala Harris. Credit | Getty Images
Vice President Kamala Harris. Credit | Getty Images

Walz’s Reaction to the Selection 

Tim Walz described his new role as “the honour of a lifetime” in a post on X. He expressed his excitement to join Kamala Harris in the campaign. 

Democrats Highlight Walz’s Gun Ownership 

Democrats have emphasized or focused on that Walz is a “gun holder” and a “supporter of the Second Amendment of the constitution.” According to a press release, Walz is an avid pheasant hunter who has backed universal background checks for gun purchases as governor. He believes that more needs to be done to address gun violence

Poll Shows Many Unfamiliar with Walz 

A recent NPR/PBS/Marist polls shows that most Americans do not know Tim Walz well or they don’t have any specific idea about him. The survey, conducted from August 1-4, found that 71% of U.S. adults had never heard of Walz or were unsure about him. Hereby almost 17% viewed him favourably or can say in the favour, while 12% had an unfavourable opinion. 

Harris Praises Walz’s Leadership 

Kamala Harris has praised Walz’s “principled leadership” and his proven track record in Minnesota. In a message to supporters, Harris expressed confidence that Walz will bring strong leadership to their campaign and to the vice presidency. She also asked for immediate support to help defeat Donald Trump and JD Vance, emphasizing how much their backing means to both her and Walz. 

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