After meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and seven European leaders to the White House for similar discussions on Monday.
All involved seem cautiously optimistic that an end to the deadliest war in Europe since World War II could be on the horizon, but that has also led to questions about what role the United States would play in not just brokering peace but maintaining it.
On Tuesday’s show, Megyn was joined by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to discuss the state of the war and why she does not support “security guarantees” for Ukraine.
Article 5-Style Guarantees?
President Trump caused a stir on Monday when he was asked in the Oval Office if “security guarantees” for Ukraine “could involve US troops.” The commander in chief was noncommittal in his response, suggesting it would be part of the conversations he was having with Zelensky and Europe.
That led many to wonder if Trump is considering NATO-inspired assurances for Ukraine, especially given that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff made headlines over the weekend when he told CNN’s Jake Tapper the U.S. could participate in “Article 5-like protections” for the Eastern European nation.
Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty lays out the principle of collective defense and stipulates that an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on every member. As such, allied nations are required to take action, “including the use of armed force,” to “restore and maintain” security in the wake of “an armed attack” against a NATO member.
NATO membership for Ukraine is believed to be a nonstarter for peace talks, but Ukraine has long demanded security guarantees be part of the equation to deter Russia from possible future invasions.
After his vague comments sparked backlash from supporters and critics alike, President Trump seemingly ruled out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine. During an appearance on Fox & Friends Tuesday morning, he insisted there “won’t be American boots on the ground defending that border” in Ukraine.
“You have my assurance,” Trump said. “I’m president and I’m just trying to stop people from being killed.”
But he did not rule out other forms of military support. “We’re willing to help them with things, especially, probably, if you could talk about by air, because nobody has the kind of stuff we have,” he added.
Where Greene Stands
Megyn and Greene spoke Monday afternoon before the president clarified his remarks, but the congresswoman said she is “against” Article 5-style assurances for Ukraine and believes the American people are as well.
“I campaigned all over the country for President Trump – not just in 2024 but literally for years – and I can tell you right now the American people are very much against funding foreign wars and sending American troops into foreign countries to protect their borders, their interests, their people,” she explained. “They are appalled that we’ve spent $200 billion or more in Ukraine thus far, since 2022, and I don’t think the American people will be happy about sending American troops with an Article 5 security agreement and promise to Ukraine. I don’t think that’s what the American people want.”
Instead, she believes Americans “want out” of the conflict entirely. “I think they want completely out of it because most Americans are looking at their daily lives, they’re looking at their bills, their rent payments, young people today can’t buy a house, they’re looking at health insurance, which is a complete scam and a rip off, and they’re going, ‘Okay, how much more is this going to cost me,'” Greene added. “America is broke. We are $37 trillion in debt. And at some point we have to start saying ‘no’ to the rest of the world… We’ve got to focus here, or we’re going to implode one day.”
And that attitude, in Rep. Greene’s view, extends beyond the war in Ukraine. “We can look at the war with Israel and Gaza, or Israel and Iran, or whoever in the Middle East… and then we can say, well, what wars do we pick to get involved in? What about the ones in Africa where Christians are slaughtered all the time,” she asked. “At what point do we say, ‘Guys and not our problem?'”
With that said, she is hopeful about what may come from Trump’s recent diplomacy. “I put a lot of faith and hope in the president,” Greene concluded. “Because we all win if he is successful in ending it.”
You can check out Megyn’s full interview with Rep. Greene by tuning in to episode 1,131 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.