In a recent interview on CNN's State of the Union, GOP Senator Marco Rubio defended former President Donald Trump's controversial comments regarding NATO. When asked about Trump's suggestion that he would not defend NATO countries that did not meet defense spending guidelines, Rubio stated that he did not view the statement in that way.

Rubio emphasized that Trump's statement was not about abandoning NATO, pointing out that the United States did not leave the alliance during his presidency. However, it was reported by The New York Times that Trump had privately threatened to withdraw from NATO multiple times.

Rubio argued that Trump's non-traditional political style should be taken into account when interpreting his statements. He highlighted that Trump is not a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and does not communicate like a conventional politician.

At a rally in North Carolina, Trump recounted an incident where a president of a "big country" asked him if the US would defend the country if invaded by Russia, even if they failed to meet their financial obligations. According to Trump, he responded by saying he would not protect them and would encourage Russia to do "whatever the hell they want."

It is worth noting that Trump's understanding of NATO funding has been inaccurate for years. While NATO expects member countries to spend a minimum of 2% of their GDP on defense, these are guidelines, not binding contracts. Member countries are not failing to pay their share of NATO's common budget.

Rubio, who recently introduced legislation that would require congressional approval for the US to withdraw from NATO, argued that Trump was reflecting on an anecdote from his presidency. He claimed that expressions of frustration about other countries not doing enough for the alliance have been made by "virtually every American president," with Trump being the first to express it in such terms.

Addressing Trump's derisive comments about Nikki Haley's husband, who is currently deployed overseas, Rubio characterized them as part of the increasing nastiness in American politics. He acknowledged that Trump is known for giving as good as he gets in political campaigns.

When reminded of his past criticism of Trump's disparaging remarks about the late Senator John McCain, Rubio acknowledged that he had made those remarks when he was running against Trump for president.

Despite their previous rivalry, Rubio has now endorsed Trump in his bid to regain the White House, stating that it is time to "get on with the work of beating Biden & saving America!" This endorsement represents a significant departure from Rubio's stance in 2016, where he expressed skepticism towards those who supported Trump.

In summary, Senator Marco Rubio defended former President Donald Trump's remarks about NATO, arguing that they should be understood within the context of Trump's unconventional political style. While Rubio acknowledged the increasing nastiness in politics, he endorsed Trump's candidacy for the upcoming presidential election, marking a significant shift in his position.