Elon Musk Supports US Withdrawal From NATO, UN

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    Elon Musk Describes DOGE As The US 'Tech Support'

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    President Donald Trump's close confidant and billionaire backer Elon Musk has supported a call for the U.S. to withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Nations (UN).

    In a post on Saturday night, Musk endorsed a suggestion from X user @GuntherEagleman, who wrote: "It's time to leave NATO and the UN."

    Newsweek has contacted the U.N. and NATO for comment outside of normal office hours.

    Why It Matters

    Musk's influential relationship with Trump is well-documented and his backing of the idea adds weight to growing skepticism within the administration toward international alliances. The Trump administration has been critical of NATO, with the president frequently questioning its value and pushing allies to increase defense spending.

    Musk, leading the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is focused on cutting federal spending and has already dismantled multiple federal agencies.

    Musk
    Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump appear during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik/Getty

    What To Know

    Although Trump has not directly stated plans to exit NATO, he has consistently urged European nations to increase their defense spending, warning that the United States should not shoulder the alliance's financial burden alone.

    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."

    Trump reiterated his call for trans-Atlantic alliance members to allocate 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to defense—more than double the current 2 percent target and a level that no NATO country, including the U.S, currently meets.

    In 2024, Trump said that he would encourage Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" to any NATO member that fails to meet defense spending guidelines—a striking admission that he would disregard the alliance's core collective defense commitment.

    NATO, a transnational military alliance, comprises 32 member states—30 from Europe and 2 from North America.

    Musk's endorsement of the idea comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions following a tense Friday Oval Office meeting between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

    Zelensky left Washington early without finalizing a mineral deal after the public clash. Reports indicate that Trump later directed his officials to dismiss the Ukrainian delegation from the White House, despite their objections.

    On March 1, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte urged Zelensky to repair ties with Trump after a heated White House exchange the previous day.

    Meanwhile, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain and France had agreed to work with Ukraine on a ceasefire plan to present to the U.S, following the public spat.

    What People Are Saying

    Republican Senator Mike Lee said in a post on X: "Good time to exit NATO."

    Christian Takushi, a researcher of Macroeconomic & geopolitical trends, said in a social media post: "The change of mind by Ukraine's most important ally in the US Senate (Mr. Graham) should not be underestimated in Europe. Now other key leaders are following suit and demanding the US withdraw immediately from NATO."

    What Happens Next

    These comments fueled debate over the alliance's future, highlighting a major shift in U.S. foreign policy.

    It remains unclear whether Trump's administration agree with Musk's endorsement or whether Musk's influence could play a role in shaping future U.S. foreign policy.

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    About the writer

    Billal Rahman is an immigration reporter based in London, U.K. He specializes in immigration policy and border security. He has uncovered allegations of misconduct among border agents under investigation and exposed claims of abuse at ICE-run detention centers in the U.S. He joined Newsweek in 2024 from The Independent. He has covered the British Post Office scandal and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Originally from Glasgow, he studied Journalism in Edinburgh and then worked for STV News before moving to London in 2022. You can contact Billal at b.rahman@newsweek.com.


    Billal Rahman is an immigration reporter based in London, U.K. He specializes in immigration policy and border security. He has ... Read more