Politics
77 Years Ago Today, NATO Was Created to Defend the West—But Is It?
WATCH: 77 Years Ago Today, NATO Was Created to Defend the West—But Is It?
77 years ago, on April 4, 1949, the NATO treaty was signed. The alliance, known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was created to deter Soviet expansion and ensure collective security among Western nations.
For decades, it succeeded in that mission. However, today’s geopolitical landscape raises a more complicated question: not whether the United States should leave NATO, but whether the alliance, in its current form, still serves American interests fairly.
Recent tensions surrounding Iran have exposed a persistent imbalance. While the United States continues to provide the backbone of NATO’s military power, many European allies remain reluctant to fully support American-led operations that fall outside a narrow interpretation of Article 5.
That hesitation is not entirely surprising. NATO’s collective defense clause applies when a member is attacked, not necessarily when the United States engages in offensive or preemptive actions.
Still, the broader issue is reciprocity. The United States maintains extensive military infrastructure across Europe, provides advanced defense capabilities, and has historically underwritten the alliance’s security umbrella. In return, Washington expects more consistent strategic alignment.
As previously reported by The Gateway Pundit, President Donald Trump is reportedly considering withdrawing from NATO, reflecting growing frustration within parts of the American political establishment.
However, leaving the alliance is neither simple nor likely. Legislation passed in 2024 requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate to approve any withdrawal, making unilateral action effectively impossible.
This legal reality underscores an important point: the debate is not truly about exit, but about leverage and reform.
It is also important to acknowledge that NATO has not always been a one-sided arrangement. The alliance invoked Article 5 for the first and only time after the September 11 attacks, leading European allies to support U.S. operations in Afghanistan.
Thousands of allied troops were deployed, and many lost their lives alongside American forces. That history matters. It demonstrates that NATO can function as intended when the threat is clearly defined within its framework.
At the same time, structural imbalances have persisted. For years, many NATO members failed to meet the agreed-upon benchmark of spending 2% of GDP on defense. While recent pressure—particularly during the Trump administration—has pushed more countries toward that target, disparities remain.
The United States continues to account for a disproportionate share of total NATO defense spending, raising legitimate concerns about burden-sharing.
Reform, therefore, should focus on three key areas. First, enforceable defense spending commitments must become the norm rather than the exception. While this has largely been the case under Trump, it remains unclear how NATO allies will respond under future administrations.
NATO should also clarify expectations for allied support in operations that, while not strictly defensive, still serve broader Western interests.
Finally, the alliance must adapt to modern threats, including cyber warfare, economic coercion, and strategic competition with powers such as China, rather than remaining overly focused on its Cold War structure.
Leaving NATO would create a vacuum that adversaries such as Russia and China would quickly exploit. The alliance provides the United States with forward operating bases, intelligence coordination, and strategic depth that cannot be easily replicated.
Of course, European nations would likely bear the greatest immediate consequences if the United States were to leave NATO. However, that does not mean withdrawal would be the right decision.
Trump is known for following through on his positions, but that does not preclude negotiation. The same principle applies to NATO: the goal should not be abandonment, but a recalibration of the alliance to better reflect mutual responsibility and shared interests.
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The post 77 Years Ago Today, NATO Was Created to Defend the West—But Is It? appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Business
ABLECHILD: Kirk Ballistics Meltdown Raises Important Questions About the Public’s Right to Know
The post ABLECHILD: Kirk Ballistics Meltdown Raises Important Questions About the Public’s Right to Know appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Politics
Nazi Tattoo-Wearing Democrat Sen. Candidate Previously Talked About Jesus Being a ‘Zombie’ and Mary a ‘Skank’
Maine Democrat and candidate for the U.S. Senate Graham Platner’s history continues to plague his efforts to portray a more moderate image to voters.
Most notably, Platner has tried to explain away his Nazi tattoo — a Totenkopf infamously adorned by Adolf Hitler’s SS – by flip-flopping, at times downplaying its significance while at others saying the tattoo is a simple skull and crossbones.
Now, comments by the congressional hopeful about Christianity have come to the surface, once again damaging his image.
On Wednesday, political commentator Greg Price posted a screenshot to social media platform X from 2012 in which Platner responded to a post on Reddit about a soldier who claimed the military discriminated against him for being an atheist.
The post was about Army Specialist Jeremy Hall.
CNN explained that Hall grew up Baptist but became an atheist sometime during his tours of duty to Iraq. He filed suit against the United States Department of Defense after saying he experience a career downturn and felt his life was at risk, needing a bodyguard to protect him.
Platner commented on a headline about Hall on the Subreddit R/videos that hit on the major points of Hall’s story, doubting the authenticity of it.
He wrote, “I’ve spent 8 years in the infantry, Marine Corps, and Army, and I’ve been about as crudely atheist as one can be the entire time (zombie jesus jokes and Mary sucking at covering up being a skank, as examples).”
After referring to Jesus as a “zombie” and Mary as a “skank,” Platner added that he was around plenty of atheist soldiers and that he wasn’t held back from promotion, as the headline indicated Hall felt he was.
WARNING: The following post contains language some readers may find offensive.
In an old Reddit post from fully grown adult Graham Platner, he describes himself as “crudely atheist,” calls Jesus a “Zombie,” and calls the Virgin Mary a “skank.” pic.twitter.com/zV8FYol2Qj
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 1, 2026
“Sure, there have been a few bible thumpers I’ve run into, but it was certainly never systemic,” Platner concluded.
For context, Platner is a combat veteran, enlisting after graduating high school and doing four tours of duty, according to his website.
He cannot seem to avoid controversy.
Likely, Platner will do as poor of a job explaining away these comments as he did in performing the mental gymnastics to downplay his tattoo.
Democrats would have a field day if a Republican were found to have mocked Muhammad years ago on an online post.
Certainly, people can change, and something that was said 14 years ago might no longer be relevant in some cases, but Platner can’t make up his mind about who he is now.
To moderates, saying such deplorable things about the Lord of millions of Americans and the one who gave birth to him will be distasteful at best, but let’s not forget who votes Democrat.
These people may look at Platner’s behavior with joy.
We will know soon enough.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
The post Nazi Tattoo-Wearing Democrat Sen. Candidate Previously Talked About Jesus Being a ‘Zombie’ and Mary a ‘Skank’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Politics
REPORT: Pam Bondi Pleaded with Trump Not To Fire Her During Meeting and Allegedly Tipped Off Eric Swalwell About FBI’s Push to Release Salacious Fang Fang Files
Credit: White House
More details have emerged regarding Pam Bondi’s sudden firing as Attorney General, and they do not reflect well on her at all.
As The Gateway Pundit reported, Bondi’s employment was terminated in a surprising shakeup and replaced in the interim by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Bondi will transition to another role in the Trump Administration.
The president has reportedly discussed replacing Bondi with EPA Chief Lee Zeldin.
This news came following reports that Trump was mulling firing Bondi over her handling of the Epstein file release.
Now, the Daily Mail reveals that a senior administration source told them that Trump actually informed Bondi during their meeting that she was fired.
Bondi responded by begging Trump not to fire her and to give her additional time in the role.
The president, however, remained firm.
The Mail also reveals a stunning final detail that proved to be Trump’s final straw with Bondi.
The president believes that Bondi gave Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-China) a heads-up about the FBI trying to release documents related to his romantic relationship with Chinese spy Christine Fang.
The senior administration source also told the Mail that Bondi was intervening in the matter.
Moreover, Bondi is reportedly FRIENDS with Swalwell. Friends with one of the most odious Democrats in America.
From The Daily Mail:
Trump’s reasoning for the sudden dismissal comes in part because the President believes Bondi tipped off Eric Swalwell about the FBI’s efforts to release investigative documents related to his relationship with an alleged Chinese spy.
The FBI was preparing a cache of documents on Swalwell’s relationship with Christine Fang.
“She’s intervening in those matters. The White House wasn’t pleased she was intervening due to her personal friendship with Swalwell,” the source added.
It is unclear why Bondi would have intervened, but it is believed that Bondi and Swalwell have a friendly relationship.
If this is all true, how did the administration miss it?
The post REPORT: Pam Bondi Pleaded with Trump Not To Fire Her During Meeting and Allegedly Tipped Off Eric Swalwell About FBI’s Push to Release Salacious Fang Fang Files appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
ABLECHILD: Kirk Ballistics Meltdown Raises Important Questions About the Public’s Right to Know
Nazi Tattoo-Wearing Democrat Sen. Candidate Previously Talked About Jesus Being a ‘Zombie’ and Mary a ‘Skank’
REPORT: Pam Bondi Pleaded with Trump Not To Fire Her During Meeting and Allegedly Tipped Off Eric Swalwell About FBI’s Push to Release Salacious Fang Fang Files
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