Fact Check: "Senator Lee's bill demands U.S. withdrawal from NATO."
What We Know
U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced a bill titled the Not A Trusted Organization (NATO) Act, which explicitly calls for the withdrawal of the United States from NATO. According to Senator Lee, "Americaβs withdrawal from NATO is long overdue" and he argues that NATO has outlived its usefulness, stating that "the threats that existed at its inception are no longer relevant" (Lee, 2025) [source-1]. The bill directs the President to provide notice of denunciation of U.S. membership in NATO, consistent with Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty, and prohibits the use of U.S. funds to contribute to NATOβs budgets (Lee, 2025) [source-1].
Analysis
The claim that Senator Lee's bill demands U.S. withdrawal from NATO is substantiated by the text of the Not A Trusted Organization (NATO) Act itself, which is publicly available and outlines the steps necessary for withdrawal. The reliability of this information is high, as it comes directly from official Senate communications and the Senator's own statements regarding the legislation (Lee, 2025) [source-1].
Furthermore, the context of the bill's introduction coincides with ongoing debates about NATO's effectiveness and the financial contributions of member states, which Lee has criticized as being disproportionately borne by the United States (Lee, 2025) [source-2]. This aligns with a broader narrative among some U.S. lawmakers who argue for a reevaluation of America's role in international alliances, particularly in light of perceived inequities in defense spending among NATO members (Lee, 2025) [source-6].
While some sources may present opposing views on the necessity and benefits of NATO, the specific claim regarding Senator Lee's bill is clear and unambiguous. The legislation's intent to withdraw from NATO is not merely a suggestion but a formal legislative proposal that has been articulated by the Senator himself.
Conclusion
The verdict on the claim that "Senator Lee's bill demands U.S. withdrawal from NATO" is True. The evidence presented in the Not A Trusted Organization (NATO) Act, along with Senator Lee's statements, confirms that the bill explicitly seeks to initiate the process for the United States to withdraw from NATO.
Sources
- Lee Introduces Withdrawal from NATO - Mike Lee US Senator for Utah
- Lee Introduces Accountability Reporting for NATO ...
- All Information (Except Text) for S.Res.75 - A ...
- Lee introduces DEFUND Act to Pull USA from UN
- Mike Lee US Senator for Utah
- NATO summit: Sen. Mike Lee wants US to leave NATO, even as Trump said ...
- NEOX en directo - ATRESplayer
- Sen. Mike Lee and Republicans launch effort to withdraw US ... - Fox News