A top Republican delivered Donald Trump a chilling warning: If he harms NATO, the GOP would revolt in a civil war that would destroy the party.
Trump threatened to pull the US out of the alliance after Europe rejected his demand for an international coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz as gas prices skyrocket amid his war on Iran.
'We no longer “need,” or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance — WE NEVER DID!' he wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday.
Outgoing Republican Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska, a former Air Force brigadier general, said it would be a disaster if Trump pulls out of NATO while speaking with CNN's Kaitlan Collins hours later.
'If he broke up NATO on his own, it would be a civil war in the Republican caucus, or the conference,' Bacon said. 'Most of us would find that totally unacceptable. And I’m not alone.'
'There’s a large group of us that believe in our alliances and standing up for freedom and pushing back on China and Russia. We don’t want war with these guys, but you’ve got to be strong. And if he went in and somehow destroyed or tore up NATO, it would probably destroy the party for many years.'
Collins pressed: 'It would destroy the Republican Party?'
'I think it would implode,' Bacon responded.
Bacon also said Trump is 'wrong' and that the President is unable to leave NATO without congressional approval.
Republican Congressman Don Bacon told CNN that if Trump breaks up NATO, the Republican Party would have a 'civil war' leading to its destruction
Trump has long complained about NATO's military commitments. Recently, the President has made veiled threats against the alliance as the US faces threats from Iran
UK Commando Force work with the German Submarine Service during Exercise Cold Response 2026. The nations joined forces for a daring simulated commando operation as part of major NATO mission rehearsals
The retiring Nebraskan is a noted foreign-policy hawk who values alliances and has bristled at Trump's more hostile remarks pointed towards allies.
Bacon broke with the President on his Greenland acquisition quest, condemning the move as destabilizing for US-EU relations. He has also split with the President on funding for Ukraine.
'The United States has been informed by most of our NATO “Allies” that they don’t want to get involved with our Military Operation against the Terrorist Regime of Iran, in the Middle East,' Trump wrote.
'This, despite the fact that almost every Country strongly agreed with what we are doing, and that Iran cannot, in any way, shape, or form, be allowed to have a Nuclear Weapon,' he continued.
He also noted how the US pays billions per year on NATO defense and that the US does 'not need the help of anyone!'
The President has been attempting to gather a coalition to defend the Strait of Hormuz amid the US war with Iran and increased threats to oil tankers transiting the narrow waterway.
Most US allies have outright denied Trump's invitation to police the Middle East, though some, like the UK, have begun planning after wrangling with the US.
'Ultimately, we have to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ensure stability in the (oil) market. That is not a simple task,' UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters this week.
'So we're working with all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease the economic impact.'
