President Donald Trump’s plan to sell weapons to NATO for Ukraine has angered several members of his own “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement, who view the move as a betrayal of his promise to keep the U.S. out of foreign wars.
On Monday, Trump announced that the U.S. will manufacture weapons for Ukraine, which NATO countries will purchase. He also threatened Russia with new tariffs if a peace deal is not reached within 50 days.
The White House has stressed that the weapons will be sold—not given—and that European allies will cover the costs. However, some prominent Trump supporters remain critical.
MAGA Figures Speak Out
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a long-time Trump ally, voiced her opposition in an interview with the New York Times. She said the decision contradicts promises made to voters about ending U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.
“It’s not just about Ukraine. It’s all foreign wars and foreign aid,” Greene said. “This is what we campaigned on. This is what everybody voted for.”
Greene also questioned whether U.S. taxpayers will truly avoid costs, pointing to expenses such as training missions and NATO contributions. She criticized what she called “backdoor deals through NATO” and insisted, “We want peace. We just want peace for those people.”
Conservative Voices Push Back
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon also criticized the decision on his War Room podcast. “It’s a European war. Let Europe deal with it,” Bannon said, warning that the U.S. risks getting dragged into another costly conflict.
An unnamed former Trump campaign official echoed these concerns in comments to Politico. “This is not our war, and escalation isn’t in America’s interest,” the official said.
White House Defends the Plan
The White House responded by defending the decision. Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said Trump’s supporters are not panicking and still trust the president.
Other officials pointed to polling data suggesting that nearly two-thirds of Trump voters support continuing arms shipments to Ukraine. They also highlighted NATO’s new commitment to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, arguing this shows Europe is stepping up.
Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby said on social media that the deal aligns with Trump’s “America First” strategy by making alliances more fair and balanced.
Trump Stands by the Deal
In an interview with the BBC on Monday, Trump said NATO is now “paying its own bills” and praised the alliance’s commitment to collective defense. He also said he has tried to negotiate peace with Russian President Vladimir Putin several times but remains “disappointed but not done.”
The new weapons deal has intensified debates over U.S. foreign policy and raised questions about how Trump’s administration balances military alliances with his promises to avoid new wars.
