Trump's latest 'breathtaking' rally comment has experts sounding the alarm

Donald Trump just made the most "important" and "dangerous" statement of the election cycle, according to one democracy expert.

Trump spoke at a rally in South Carolina on Saturday, telling attendees that he wouldn't defend NATO allies from Russia. Specifically, he said, "One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, 'Well, sir, if we don't pay and we're attacked by Russia, will you protect us?' I said, 'You didn't pay? You're delinquent?... No I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want.'" He ended by saying you, "gotta pay your bills!"

Trygve Olson, the author of the Lincoln Democracy Institute's research project, the "Democracy Index," spoke out on Saturday.

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"This is the most important (and shamelessly irresponsible, dangerous, and anti-American interests) statement made by a leading candidate for President in the history of our nation," Olson said on his social media account. "Media that covers it any other way is in fact playing into Trump's narrative that it is all fake media."

Tom Malinowski, a former United States Representative, had a similar take on the media's role here.

"Truly unhinged stuff: Presumptive Republican nominee says he’ll encourage Russia to attack our allies triggering a world war if they don’t 'pay' (never mind that Europe is paying more than the US for Ukraine now)," he wrote. "This should be front page, top of broadcast, news."

Former GOP communications director Tara Setmayer directed her message directly to the New York Times.

"Hey [Times] Where's your headline about Trump abandoning NATO and encouraging Russia to attack our allies in Europe?" she asked Saturday. "'In fact I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want...' Openly encouraging our enemy to attack our allies gets a shrug... But Biden is old so.."

New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser on Saturday gave her view as someone who covers the ex-president.

"Trump watcher perspective here: He's getting even more brazen. Even by Trump's standards, this is breathtaking."