‘Trying To Play Catch Up’: Scott Bessent Dismantles Kristen Welker’s ‘False Choice’ Between NATO, Greenland

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismantled NBC host Kristen Welker’s “false choice” framing that the United States must decide between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Greenland during a Sunday appearance on “Meet the Press.”

President Donald Trump wrote Wednesday in a Truth Social post that the United States “needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security,” warning of the risk posed if Russia or China were to gain control first. Citing concerns annexing Greenland could undermine NATO, Welker asked Bessent whether NATO or Greenland is “more essential” to U.S. national security.

“Well, Kristen, that’s obviously a false choice. That’s a maximum— ” Bessent began before Welker jumped in.

The NBC host stated that the question wasn’t giving a “false choice” from the “perspective of European leaders.”

“European leaders will come around and they will understand that they need to be under the U.S. security umbrella. What would happen in Ukraine if the U.S. pulled its support out? The whole thing would collapse,” Bessent responded. “Kristen, to be clear, since 1980, the U.S. has spent — U.S. military spending versus NATO military spending — we have spent 22 trillion more dollars than the Europeans have. We are peace through strength and the Europeans now are only trying to play catch up. And that is only through President Trump. President Trump believes in NATO, but he does not believe in the American people being dragged in.”

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