Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton delivered a grave warning at the Munich Security Conference, suggesting that if former President Trump secures re-election in November, he will likely pursue withdrawing the U.S. from NATO.

“We have a long struggle ahead of us, and the obvious point to make about Donald Trump is take him literally and seriously,” she said, according to Fox News. “He means what he says. People did not take him literally and seriously in 2016. Now he is telling us what he intends to do, and people who try to wish it away, brush it away, are living in an alternative reality.”

Thank you, Secretary @HillaryClinton, for a great discussion on global health challenges, including pandemic preparedness and the #PandemicAccord. #MSC2024 pic.twitter.com/80EmgqZq0R

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) February 18, 2024

Clinton urged U.S. allies to heed Trump’s rhetoric seriously, emphasizing, “He means what he says. People did not take him literally and seriously in 2016.”

She voiced concerns about Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, stating unequivocally, “He will do everything he can to become an absolute authoritarian leader if given the opportunity to do so.” Clinton specifically highlighted Trump’s potential action regarding NATO, despite congressional constraints, asserting, “He will pull us out of NATO even though the Congress passed a resolution saying that he couldn’t without congressional support, because he will just not fund our obligations.”

Clinton’s remarks were seemingly directed towards NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who remains confident in U.S. commitment to the alliance regardless of the election outcome. However, Trump’s recent criticisms of NATO’s funding arrangements have raised concerns. Stoltenberg acknowledged that such rhetoric undermines the alliance’s security principles, emphasizing, “Any suggestion that we are not standing up for each other, that we are not going to protect each other, that does undermine the security of all of us.”

I'm leaving Munich today with a lot of great memories from @MunSecConf, feeling energized about the global battle for democracy.

We've got to make the stakes clear to voters around the world: Democracy can be messy and frustrating, but it's endlessly preferable to the… pic.twitter.com/GXJHNn9eYw

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 18, 2024

Trump’s comments prompted a rush among member countries to confirm their financial contributions to NATO. Stoltenberg revealed that 18 of NATO’s 31 members are on track to meet their pledges of contributing 2% of GDP to the alliance, marking a significant increase compared to previous years. European states are projected to contribute $380 billion in the current year, with Germany expected to meet its 2% pledge for the first time since the Cold War.

While Stoltenberg expressed concern over Trump’s remarks, the increased contributions from member countries demonstrate a collective effort to bolster NATO’s capabilities. Clinton’s warning underscores the significance of U.S. leadership within the alliance and the potential implications of a Trump presidency for NATO’s future.