Elon Musk backs US exit from NATO, UN

Washington

Elon Musk, a key adviser to President Donald Trump and head of the Department of Government Efficiency, has publicly supported the idea of the United States withdrawing from NATO and the United Nations.

Musk responded with "I agree" to a post on X by political commentator Gunther Eagleman, who called for the US to leave both organizations. The post referenced Republican Senator Mike Lee’s proposal advocating for a complete US withdrawal from the UN, arguing that the organization has failed to prevent wars, genocides, and human rights abuses.

In February, Lee introduced the Disengaging Entirely from the United Nations Debacle (DEFUND) Act, criticizing the UN as a "platform for tyrants" and claiming it unfairly targets the US and its allies. Musk had previously backed Lee’s stance, stating that the US provides excessive funding to the UN and related organizations.

Musk has also questioned NATO's relevance in the modern era. He argued that the alliance is outdated and unfairly burdens American taxpayers, who fund nearly 67% of NATO’s military budget despite the US spending only 3.5% of its GDP on defense. Trump has similarly criticized NATO, demanding that member nations increase their defense spending.

On Sunday, Musk also revisited a past post advocating a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. He claimed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ignored opportunities for peace, leading to unnecessary loss of life. Musk further noted declining public trust in Zelenskyy, citing a CNN report showing a significant drop in American support for Ukraine.