Month: April 2025

Credit: Fox News screenshot/KFOX14 News

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has revealed some new infuriating and extremely damning information about the New Mexico magistrate judge who was arrested last night for harboring an illegal alien with suspected ties to Tren de Aragua.

As The Gateway Pundit reported, the FBI arrested former New Mexico Magistrate Judge Juan Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, for allegedly harboring an illegal alien with suspected ties to Tren de Aragua, a notorious Venezuelan gang known for trafficking, extortion, and violence.

The arrest came just weeks after Cano resigned from his judicial post following a dramatic federal raid at his Doña Ana County residence, where agents apprehended Cristhian Ortega Lopez, an illegal immigrant now charged with unlawful firearm possession and gang affiliation.

The Gateway Pundit was one of the first outlets to report that longtime Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano — a Democrat and former police officer — abruptly resigned after federal agents arrested an alleged member of the violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang at a residence he owns.

Bondi appeared on Fox News this afternoon to discuss Cano’s actions. After co-host Sandra Smith inquired about the charges the crooked judge and his wife would face, Bondi revealed that Cano’s charges were just unsealed and include charges of obstruction.

Then, she dropped a major bombshell about what Cano did to earn his arrest.

“He took one of the TDA members’ cellphones, beat it with a hammer, and destroyed it,” Bondi explained. “Then he walked the pieces to a city dumpster to dispose of them to protect himself.”

“Wow!” Smith exclaimed.

“Sandra, not only that, this TDA member also had pictures of TWO decapitated victims,” she added. “Gruesome photos. And he was sending them out.”

WATCH:

.@AGPamBondi gives updates on the New Mexico judge who harbored a Tren-de-Aragua gang member in his home:

“He took one of the TDA members’ cellphones — beat it with a hammer — and then walked the pieces to a city dumpster to dispose it to protect him… Not only that, this TDA… pic.twitter.com/PfPUDpFjxm

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 25, 2025

Bondi then added one more stunning detail: Cano and his wife gave this terrorist ASSAULT RIFLES, which belonged to their daughter! The thug proceeded to do some target practice on the shooting range with his fellow TDA cronies.

“The judge and his wife gave him assault rifles that belonged to their daughter,” she stated. “He goes to the shooting range with these assault rifles, with a suppressor, with other known TDA members, and they are shooting.”

“This is the LAST person we want in our country,” she concluded. “Nor will we ever tolerate a judge or anyone else harboring them.”

The post WATCH: Attorney General Pam Bondi Drops Extremely Damning New Details on New Mexico Judge Arrested for Harboring Tren de Aragua Gangster in His Home appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Milwaukee judge Hannah Dugan flees reporter after being arrested by FBI for obstructing ICE arrest / screen image

On Friday morning, a Milwaukee County judge was arrested by the FBI for obstructing an ICE arrest last week.

According to the FBI, Judge Hannah Dugan obstructed an immigration arrest operation last week. Dugan became angry when she found out that ICE agents were waiting outside of her courtroom last week to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an illegal alien involved in a domestic abuse case she was overseeing. She allegedly directed Flores-Ruiz to exit the courthouse through a private jury door to evade arrest.

FBI Director Kash Patel said Judge Dugan “intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested at her courthouse.”

Full statement by Director Patel:

Just NOW, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction — after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week.

We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, allowing the subject — an illegal alien — to evade arrest.

Thankfully, our agents chased down the perp on foot and he’s been in custody since, but the Judge’s obstruction created increased danger to the public.

We will have more to share soon. Excellent work @FBIMilwaukee.

Just NOW, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction — after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week.

We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be…

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 25, 2025

US Attorney General Pam Bondi also confirmed the arrest.

“I can confirm that our FBI agents just arrested Hannah Dugan – a county judge in Milwaukee – for allegedly helping an illegal alien avoid an arrest by ICE,” Pam Bondi said.

“No one is above the law,” Bondi added.

Pam Bondi said Judge Dugan screamed at immigration officers last week before helping the illegal alien evade arrest.

“The judge learned that ICE was outside … She goes out in the hallway, screams at the immigration officers — she’s furious, visibly shaking, upset — sends them off to talk to the chief judge. She comes back in the courtroom … takes the defendant and the defense attorney back in her chambers, takes them out a private exit and tells them to leave,” Bondi said on Fox News on Friday.

WATCH:

.@AGPamBondi describes the shocking interference by a Wisconsin judge in an ICE arrest of an illegal immigrant:

“The judge learned that ICE was outside … She goes out in the hallway, screams at the immigration officers — she’s furious, visibly shaking, upset — sends them off… pic.twitter.com/qzmA6c4Uar

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 25, 2025

Judge Hannah Dugan was charged with two felonies. She scurried away after leaving the courthouse on Friday.

“Judge Dugan wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety,” her attorney said during the hearing, according to CNN.

Dugan did not speak to reporters as she climbed into a vehicle waiting for her after her hearing.

Video courtesy of WISN 12 News:

New video from our crews: Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan and her attorney leaving the federal courthouse in Milwaukee and not commenting. The FBI arrested her at the MKE Co Courthouse this morning. She’s charged with 2 felonies for obstructing an ICE arrest last week pic.twitter.com/3YtgsNHTJl

— Matt Smith (@mattsmith_news) April 25, 2025

The post WATCH: Milwaukee Judge Arrested by FBI For Obstructing ICE Scurries Away from Press After Leaving Federal Courthouse – Charged with 2 Felonies appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

(DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has formally terminated the service of every member sitting on the Department of Defense’s advisory committees.

Based on the information available on the website as of Thursday, the now-defunct panels included several well-known Democrats and Bush-era Republicans.

Janine Davidson (Chair) – Former Under Secretary of the Navy under Obama. A staunch Democrat and longtime proponent of Obama-era military reforms, now steering Pentagon policy advice.
Michèle Flournoy – Held major Pentagon roles under Clinton and Obama; often discussed as a potential Secretary of Defense under Hillary Clinton or Biden.
Colin Kahl – National Security Advisor to then-VP Biden, later Under Secretary of Defense for Policy under Biden. Key Biden ally and architect of many failed Middle East strategies during the Obama years.
Susan Rice – National Security Advisor under Obama; Domestic Policy Advisor under Biden. Central to Obama’s foreign policy blunders and later helped craft Biden’s radical domestic agenda.
Dana Shell Smith – Career diplomat; served as U.S. Ambassador to Qatar under Obama.
Eric Edelman – Undersecretary of Defense for Policy under George W. Bush; strong neoconservative background.
Jon Huntsman Jr. – Served under George W. Bush (Ambassador to Singapore) and Obama (Ambassador to China); briefly served under Trump (Ambassador to Russia).
Kori Schake – Held roles under Bush; associated with AEI and other think tanks; known for hawkish, internationalist views.

Screenshot: DOD as of April 24, 2025

Hegseth’s decisive action came after a 45-day internal review, which concluded that these advisory bodies had become bloated, ineffective, and, in many cases, politically misaligned with the department’s new mission under President Trump’s renewed leadership.

In a statement issued late Thursday, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell made clear that the department was taking a new direction:

“Yesterday, informed by the recently concluded 45-day review of DOD advisory committees, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directed the conclusion of service of all members of each DOD advisory committee that had been subject to the review, consistent with applicable law.

Secretary Hegseth appreciates the members’ efforts on behalf of the department and the United States of America, but changes are needed to support the new strategic direction and policy priorities of the department and to ensure departmental resources are used efficiently.”

In a letter issued by former Chief of Staff Joe Kasper, who left the agency Thursday:

“No later than April 25, 2025, each sponsor of a DoD advisory committee will notify advisory committee members that their service has concluded and will provide my appreciation for their efforts on behalf of the Department and United States ofAmerica.

“The Deputy Secretary of Defense may retain individual members on a case-by-case basis upon determination that the member is required for uninterrupted committee operations necessary for national security reasons. Within 30 days, sponsors will recommend members for their DoD advisory committees for my review and approval.”

The post Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Cleans House: Fires All Pentagon Advisory Committees, Including Seat Held by Obama Crony Susan Rice appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Image: @byrondonalds/X

In February, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) announced his candidacy for governor of Florida in 2026.

The conservative firebrand received an early endorsement from President Donald Trump, before Donalds even announced his candidacy.

The post Rep. Bryron Donalds Shares Heartwarming Moment with President Trump: “This is the PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT. This is what the media will NEVER SHOW YOU.” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Former congressman George Santos was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison and two years of supervised release on Friday.

Santos, 36, had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft last year.

The prosecution was granted the 87 months that they had requested.

Intelligencer reports:

In 2023, federal prosecutors unveiled an indictment against Santos, alleging the representative defrauded campaign donors by directing their contributions to his personal accounts and using the funds to purchase designer clothes and pay bills. They also alleged that he fraudulently applied for pandemic unemployment benefits despite being employed. A subsequent superseding indictment alleged Santos conspired to inflate his campaign’s financial records to qualify for assistance from the national party as well as stole the identities and financial information of his donors to make contributions in their names unknowingly. The 23 total counts against Santos ranged from wire fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft to making false statements to the Federal Election Commission.

Santos was initially defiant, rebuffing calls for his resignation and vowing to run for reelection. But the beleaguered representative soon made history in 2023 by becoming only the sixth member of the House to be expelled from the political body following a damning ethics report that found “substantial evidence” of his rule breaking.

The Department of Justice asked for an increased sentence due to his social media posts criticizing the federal government.

Hi my name is George Santos and the DOJ has had a hard on for me since December of 2022.

I refuse to let them break me or my spirit and that makes them big Mad… they have used elaborate language to drag me and hinder my ability to earn income…

Long story short, I will NOT…

— Pants On Fire with George Santos (@MrSantosNY) April 5, 2025

In a letter to the judge last week, Santos expressed remorse for his actions but called out the prosecution for seeking such a harsh penalty.

“Every sunrise since that plea has carried the same realization: I did this, me. I am responsible,” Santos wrote in a letter to U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert, according to a report from the Associated Press. “But saying I’m sorry doesn’t require me to sit quietly while these prosecutors try to drop an anvil on my head.”

“Contesting the severity of a proposed sentence is not the same as contesting guilt, and punishing protected speech because it questions punishment should trouble anyone who values fair prosecution over personal vindication,” he wrote.

Santos was elected in 2022 and ousted the following year.

Before being kicked out of office, Santos received a 100% score from Heritage Action for America for his complete alignment with the organization’s conservative policy positions.

Santos has not publicly stated if he will seek a pardon from President Donald Trump

The post BREAKING: George Santos Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Credit: DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza

A far-left nonprofit filed a lawsuit against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and all participants in the Houthi Signal chat group seeking all records for the past three months.

National Security Counselors is a far-left nonprofit with ties to Deep State lawyer Mark Zaid and attorneys connected to Lawfare blog.

Last month it was reported that Jeffrey Goldberg, the anti-Trump editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, claimed he was accidentally added to a secure Signal group chat where top Trump administration officials discussed sensitive military operations against Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen.

According to Jeffrey Goldberg, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance were in a Signal group called “Houthi PC small group,” discussing plans to strike terrorists in Yemen.

Rather than exiting the chat group, Goldberg took screenshots and published a report in The Atlantic.

Source: The Atlantic

Additional screenshots of the Houthi PC small group chat revealed it was set to one week of ‘disappearing messages’ so the group chat has ‘self destructed.’

According to leaks, Pete Hegseth has set up other Signal chat groups to communicate with other members of the Trump Administration.

Members of the Biden Regime used the Signal app to communicate but it only became a scandal under the Trump Administration.

The Hill reported:

Participants on a Signal group chat discussion about a strike on Houthi targets in Yemen are facing a lawsuit over a request to turn over all conversions they had on the encrypted app over the past three months.

The suit is the first filed since reporting indicating Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed the same strike in a Signal chat with his wife, brother and personal lawyer.

The suit asks for the Signal messages from Hegseth and other top Trump officials, asking for the totality of messages in their accounts “regardless of sender or recipient.”

“When news first broke about Signalgate, the first question on a lot of national security people’s minds wasn’t, ‘How did this happen?’ We knew how it happened. Our question was, ‘How often did this happen?’” said Kel McClanahan, executive director of the nonprofit National Security Counselors, who brought the suit after filing a similar public information request on behalf of a journalist.

Last month left-wing watchdog group American Oversight filed a lawsuit against John Ratcliffe, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard and others, claiming their use of the double encrypted app Signal violates the Presidential Records Act.

American Oversight boasts about its ‘activist litigation’ targeting Republican interests, especially the Trump Administration.

The post NEW: Far-Left Group with Ties to Deep State Lawyers Targets Hegseth, All Participants in Signal Chat on Houthi Strikes, Sues For ALL App Records For Past Three Months appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Screenshot: America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer / Fox News

Dr. Mehmet Oz, newly sworn in as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), has exposed billions of dollars in fraud, waste, and abuse plaguing America’s healthcare safety nets.

Appearing on America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer, Dr. Oz laid out a clear and urgent mission: protect the most vulnerable — not enrich bureaucrats, fraudsters, and corrupt insiders.

“Right now, my main focus, without any question, is to wage a war on fraud, waste, and abuse — because that’s what’s required. All hands on deck,” Dr. Oz said.

Under President Trump’s directive to “love and cherish Medicare and Medicaid,” Dr. Oz has mobilized an aggressive “war room” to identify, track, and claw back fraudulent payments.

“It’s a massive issue — hundreds of billions of dollars potentially out there. Not all of it is going to be collected at once, but we’ve got a war room focused very much on things that are going to really bother you.”

“If you thought USAID was a problem, some of the issues we are discovering — some of the things CMS has been funding through Medicare, Medicaid, and the exchanges — will bring a little shiver to you,” Dr. Oz warned.

WATCH:

.@DrOzCMS: “My mission is to protect the most vulnerable because I’ll tell you, as a heart surgeon, the most expensive care is bad care… right now, my main focus without any question is to wage a war on fraud, waste and abuse because that’s what’s required—all hands on deck.” pic.twitter.com/uLcQYQ3bE4

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 25, 2025

In just a short time, the CMS team has flagged tens of billions of dollars in illicit spending. Among the jaw-dropping examples:

$1 billion in Medicare funds went to individuals fraudulently registered in multiple states.
$200 million spent on housekeeping services, unrelated to Medicaid’s core mission.
$10 million diverted to student loan repayments, robbing funds from life-saving treatments like gene therapy for sickle cell anemia.
$14 million squandered on DEI initiatives and labor union childcare benefits.
250,000 ineligible individuals registered in the marketplace, siphoning resources.

Oz emphasized these findings aren’t rounding errors — they’re the result of deliberate, organized criminal activity, sometimes even tied to foreign adversaries.

“The $31 million that I know of last week is a great example. We stopped that money — using new technology, modernizing how Medicare and Medicaid work — from even leaving the building because we knew something was fishy about the bills,” said Dr. Oz.

“These aren’t just small mistakes. These are organized criminal efforts to hurt our country, some launched by foreign countries. These are serious issues we are digging into — and that’s why we have this war room.”

Democrats, led by figures like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have accused the Trump administration and Dr. Oz of plotting to gut Medicare and Medicaid.

Schumer claimed the administration prioritizes “the billionaire class” over working Americans, while AOC alleged cuts to veterans’ benefits and Medicaid. Dr. Oz dismissed these attacks as baseless fearmongering.

“President Trump has been very clear with me — he said it publicly — he wants to love and cherish, I’m quoting him, Medicare and Medicaid, these programs,” Dr. Oz explained.

“We are focused on saving Medicaid. That’s what we have to do. The existential threat is spending it into the ground so we don’t have the resources to take care of our most vulnerable.”

Addressing concerns about program cuts, Dr. Oz reassured Americans that the core mission of Medicaid—supporting poor children, pregnant women, the elderly, and the disabled—remains untouched.

The post Dr. Oz Uncovers Billions in Medicare and Medicaid Fraud, Waste, and Abuse: ‘If You Thought USAID was a Problem, This Will Bring a Little Shiver to You’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Image:@SecretaryBurgum/X

Twelve year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was raped and murdered by two Venezuelan illegal suspects – Johan Jose Martinez Rangel and Franklin Jose Pe Ramos, who have been charged with her brutal killing.

The Gateway Pundit reported that the pair, who allegedly lured Jocelyn under a bridge, where they held her for more than two hours, before raping and murdering her, may be linked to the Tren de Aragua gang.

While Democrats run to El Salvador to meet with their new hero, MS-13 terrorist Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Trump administration is honoring one of the victims of the consequences of an open border under Joe Biden and Border Czar Kamala Harris.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced the naming of a new wildlife refuge in honor of Jocelyn.

The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, in Southeastern Texas near the Gulf of America, has been renamed the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge.

Burgum shared on X, “In naming the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge in honor of Jocelyn, we are establishing a permanent place where her name will live on with dignity & peace.”

“It’s our vow that Jocelyn’s memory be tied to a place of protection, a place of life, and a place of healing.”

Watch:

In naming the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge in honor of Jocelyn, we are establishing a permanent place where her name will live on with dignity & peace.

It’s our vow that Jocelyn’s memory be tied to a place of protection, a place of life, and a place of healing. pic.twitter.com/tMfjZhxhPN

— Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) April 25, 2025

Burgum was joined by Jocelyn’s family and Texas Governor Greg Abbott at the renaming.

Image:@SecretaryBurgum/X

“Honored to join the Nungaray family at the Jocelyn Nungaray Wildlife Refuge in Texas, renamed by @POTUS, to commemorate Jocelyn’s life that was taken far too soon by illegal immigrants.”

“Today, and every day, we pay tribute to her memory in a place that ensures her name will always be remembered!”

Honored to join the Nungaray family at the Jocelyn Nungaray Wildlife Refuge in Texas, renamed by @POTUS, to commemorate Jocelyn’s life that was taken far too soon by illegal immigrants.
Today, and every day, we pay tribute to her memory in a place that ensures her name will… pic.twitter.com/aT1XsTGDHO

— Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) April 24, 2025

Joined @SecretaryBurgum today at the renaming ceremony of the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge.

Jocelyn loved animals and nature.

This sanctuary is a tribute to a beautiful young soul taken from us too soon. pic.twitter.com/FiVQy5Jtrs

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 24, 2025

The post Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum Announces ‘Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge’ to Honor Child Murdered by Illegals appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

U.S. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene speaking with attendees at the 2021 AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. (Credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is reportedly considering a run for Senate in 2026, but only if Governor Brian Kemp does not enter the race.

Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff currently holds the seat Greene is said to be eying.

The Daily Caller, citing two unnamed sources, reports that Greene believes she would “crush” the Republican primary if Kemp does not enter the race. Kemp is widely considered a favorite to win and clear the field if he chooses.

The Daily Caller reports:

Greene’s potential candidacy for incumbent Democratic Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff’s seat would put the conservative congresswoman at the center of one of the most closely watched races of 2026. Republicans are laser-focused on defeating Ossoff, whose narrow victory over former Republican Georgia Sen. David Perdue in a January 2021 runoff election was partly responsible for costing Senate Republicans their majority during the 2020 cycle.

Ossoff is the only Senate Democrat running for reelection in a state that Trump won last November.

Though Kemp is viewed as the party’s top recruit to defeat Ossoff — reflected by recent polling — the Republican primary is “frozen” until the term-limited governor makes a decision about whether to enter the race, a source familiar with the primary contest told the DCNF. Another source who requested anonymity to discuss both potential candidates’ bids said Kemp is likely to indicate whether he is running by Memorial Day.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has been urging Kemp to run, as has Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

President Donald Trump has urged Greene to run instead, vowing to “fight like hell” for her if she does.

When asked if she was considering a run by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in February, Greene did not rule it out. “Of course I’m considering all possibilities,” the congresswoman said. “No decisions have been made, but I would be telling a lie if I didn’t say I wasn’t considering it.”

“I think if she got in tomorrow, she’d raise millions of dollars online in the first week,” one source told The Caller. “If I was one of the other members of Congress that was looking at the race, I would not be fired up about running against her.”

Georgia Reps. Mike Collins, Rich McCormick, and Buddy Carter are also reportedly considering primary runs, but none are household names like Greene.

The post Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Reportedly Considering Senate Bid — But Only if One Certain Person Doesn’t Enter Race appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

In a sharp criticism of NATO’s European members that has become increasingly common in the Trump administration, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a stark warning, urging the alliance’s member states to dramatically increase their defense budgets or risk undermining the credibility of the entire organization.

“NATO is only as strong as the commitments of its members,” Rubio told The Free Press in an interview. “If the US is carrying the lion’s share, with European nations as mere junior partners, that’s not a true alliance—it’s a dependency.”

Rubio’s comments come amid rising frustration in Washington over NATO’s continued reliance on American military and financial support. Despite a 2014 agreement among NATO members to allocate 2% of GDP to defense, many European countries still fail to meet that target, leaving the US to bear the brunt of NATO’s costs.

“The US is pulling more than its fair weight,” Rubio said. “For NATO to remain credible, its members must fulfill their responsibilities. If this is to be a real alliance, it must be a mutual commitment—not just one where the US covers the bill.”

Exclusive: @BariWeiss sits down with @SecRubio to discuss the Trump administration’s biggest shake-up ‘in decades’ at the State Department.

Plus: controversial deportations, ending the war in Ukraine, and the new Iranian nuclear deal.

Read on: https://t.co/GU0YPdYU7v pic.twitter.com/xE8imxU5Ye

— The Free Press (@TheFP) April 23, 2025

Rubio, known for his hawkish foreign policy stance, proposed that NATO members aim for a far higher benchmark: 5% of GDP spent on defense. His proposal comes in response to the continued underfunding by key European nations, especially in light of growing global threats.

“If NATO is going to continue to function as a credible defense force, it must be a real partnership, not a freeloading arrangement,” Rubio asserted. “Europe must step up to the plate. It’s time for allies to make the necessary sacrifices.”

Rubio’s remarks come after his first NATO foreign ministers’ meeting earlier this month, where he sought to reassure European allies of US commitment to the alliance under President Donald Trump. However, the message was clear: the era of American indulgence is over.

This sentiment is echoed by other senior US officials, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who recently underscored that Washington expects all NATO members to meet the 2% defense spending target by the June NATO summit.

“Europe’s security cannot remain a one-way street,” Waltz remarked. “The U.S. will no longer bear the brunt of NATO’s defense costs while others shirk their responsibilities.”

Defense spending has long been a contentious issue within the alliance. But Rubio’s forceful rhetoric highlights a renewed US push for more equitable burden-sharing, especially as geopolitical tensions continue to escalate.

“The United States is still committed to NATO,” Rubio emphasized, “but not as a one-sided enterprise. For NATO to remain effective, Europe must do more.”

Rubio’s stance signals a broader shift in US foreign policy, one that prioritizes American interests and demands greater contributions from European allies. This shift has also been echoed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who made similar remarks during a speech at the Army War College in Pennsylvania.

“The era of the US being the sole guarantor of European security is over,” Hegseth declared. “It’s time for Europe to take responsibility for its own defense. NATO’s 2% target is no longer enough. If Europe wants security, Europe must fund it.”

With the NATO summit just around the corner, the alliance is facing a critical juncture. If European nations fail to meet the growing demands for defense spending, they risk fracturing the unity of NATO at a time when the global security landscape is becoming increasingly unpredictable.

The question now is whether Europe will heed the call for stronger defense investments, or whether the US will be forced to reconsider its role in NATO’s future. The outcome may well shape the future of the alliance and its capacity to address emerging global threats.

The post Rubio Slams NATO Allies as Nothing More Than “Junior Partners,” Demands 5% Defense Spending appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.