Elon Musk Insists US Should ‘Really’ Exit NATO

Billionaire Elon Musk, a close adviser to President Donald Trump, voiced support for the United States leaving the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), writing on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, early Sunday that the U.S. “really should” exit the alliance.

Newsweek reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment via email on Sunday.

Why It Matters

The Trump administration has been critical of NATO, with the president frequently questioning its value and pushing allies to increase their defense spending. Trump has recently suggested that the U.S. might not abide by one of the core tenets of the agreement, mutual defense, if an attacked country doesn’t contribute enough in defense spending.

Musk, a key power player in the Trump administration and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has wielded significant influence, notably directing mass federal layoffs. Musk’s support for the U.S. leaving NATO comes amid a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, including heightened tensions with Ukraine over the ongoing war with Russia.

What To Know

On Sunday, Musk endorsed calls for the U.S. to leave the trans-Atlantic alliance. Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, recently wrote on X that the U.S. should “Exit NATO *now*!” a post that Musk reshared, adding, “We really should. Doesn’t make sense for America to pay for the defense of Europe.”

Trump has criticized European countries for not contributing more to the alliance’s defense budget. Days after his inauguration, Trump said he was not sure the U.S. should be spending anything on NATO, telling reporters the U.S. was protecting NATO members, but they were “not protecting us.”

The alliance has only once invoked Article 5, the alliance’s collective defense clause, following the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States.

Since taking office, Trump has intensified his criticism, particularly targeting those not meeting the alliance’s defense spending benchmark of 2 percent of their GDP. He has floated the idea of raising NATO spending to 5 percent of a country’s GDP. Under that proposal, even the U.S. would need to increase its spending to meet that goal significantly.

On Thursday, Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked the president in the Oval Office, “Are you considering changes to NATO where if a country gets attacked but isn’t paying enough dues, the U.S. doesn’t defend them?”

Trump responded, “Well I’ve said that to them. I said, ‘If you’re not gonna pay, we’re not gonna defend.'”

NATO has 32 member countries, 29 European countries, the U.S., Canada, and Turkey. Sweden became the most recent member, joining in 2024. The alliance was originally founded by 12 countries in 1949.

Musk has previously endorsed posts supportive of leaving the alliance, and on February 12 wrote on X that “NATO needs an overhaul.”

The Trump administration has greatly shifted U.S. foreign policy, specifically towards Ukraine and Europe. While the Biden administration provided military aid and diplomatic support to Ukraine amid its war with Russia, Trump has argued that the country must accept some concessions to bring a quick end to the conflict, leaving him at odds with many European leaders.

In late-February, Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky engaged in a fiery and unprecedented Oval Office exchange, which ended with Zelensky leaving the White House without signing a highly touted rare minerals deal. The exchange further fractured the relationship with Ukraine and led many European leaders to reaffirm their support for Zelensky and Kyiv.

What People Are Saying

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in a March 6 press conference: “I know some may have concerns about NATO’s future, so let me be clear. The transatlantic relationship and the transatlantic partnership remains the bedrock of our Alliance. President Trump has made clear its commitment of the U.S., and his commitment personally to NATO. And it has also made clear the expectation that we, in Europe, must do more in terms of defense spending.”

Christiane Amanpour, CNN chief international anchor, wrote in an X post on Friday: “We reported then, and we keep reporting, that NATO’s Article 5 has only ever ONCE been invoked: to protect and defend the United States of America after 9/11.”

Representative Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, wrote on X on March 2: “It is time for the United States to exit NATO!”

What Happens Next

It remains uncertain whether the U.S. will alter its NATO membership status.

Meanwhile, per the National Defense Authorization Act, the president cannot change NATO membership status, including suspension, termination, or withdrawal, “except by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, provided that two-thirds of the Senators present concur, or pursuant to an Act of Congress.”