Elon Musk appears to back US withdrawing from NATO and the UN

Elon Musk Backs calls for the US to Withdraw from NATO and the UN

Tech baron Elon Musk has recently supported calls for the United States to withdraw from two major international organizations, NATO and the United Nations. This stance was expressed by Musk on the social media platform X, where he agreed with a suggestion made by MAGA influencer Gunther Eagleman. The suggestion was that it’s time for the US to leave both NATO and the UN. Musk’s brief agreement came after several social media users referenced Sen. Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) proposal to pull the US out of both organizations.

Sen. Mike Lee’s Advocacy for US Withdrawal

Sen. Mike Lee, who has been frequently reposted and interacted with by Musk on X, introduced legislation last month aimed at withdrawing the US from the UN and NATO. Lee has criticized the UN as "a platform for tyrants and a venue to attack America and her allies." On Saturday, Lee suggested that the US should leave NATO, citing Norway’s announcement that a fuel supplier would stop helping the US Navy refuel in protest of President Trump’s confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Lee remarked, "Europe doesn’t love us," and argued that it’s time for the US to leave NATO.

Norway’s Response and the Significance of NATO

Despite the announcement by Haltbakk Bunkers, a Norwegian fuel supplier, Norway has clarified that it will continue to support the refueling of US military ships. NATO, formed after World War II as a bulwark against the Soviet Union, has expanded to include 32 members. The alliance operates on the principle that an attack on one member is an attack on all, making it a cornerstone of global security. The UN, also established after WWII, aims to promote dialogue and cooperation between nations.

Conservative Criticisms of NATO and the UN

Both President Trump and other conservative figures have expressed dissatisfaction with NATO allies, arguing that they do not contribute sufficiently to the alliance’s defense efforts. Similar critiques have been directed at the UN, with accusations that certain elements within the organization are overly harsh towards the US. Musk has echoed these sentiments, questioning the continued existence of NATO after the collapse of the Soviet Union and arguing that the US bears a disproportionate share of NATO’s power.

Musk’s Perspective on US Contributions

In the past, Elon Musk has criticized the financial burden the US carries in its contributions to NATO and the UN. He has questioned why NATO continues to exist post-Soviet Union and has highlighted the disproportionate spending by the US. Last fiscal year, the US contributed $1.54 billion to the UN’s core budget and funds other UN entities. Musk’s concerns about these financial commitments seem to align with his broader views on cost-cutting and efficiency, as seen in his role as an informal boss of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Implications of US Withdrawal

The potential withdrawal of the US from NATO and the UN raises significant questions about global security and international diplomacy. President Trump has already taken steps to reduce US involvement with certain UN entities, such as cutting funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees and withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council. If the US were to leave NATO, it could unsettle the alliance’s stability and potentially weaken its collective defense capabilities. Musk’s endorsement of these measures, while brief, adds weight to the ongoing debate about the US’s role in international organizations.