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Mark Esper, former President Donald Trump’s secretary of defense, lit into his former boss on Wednesday for his recent comments inviting Russia to invade NATO allies.

CNN anchor John Berman asked Esper about Trump’s recent comments telling Vladimir Putin to do “whatever the hell” he wants to NATO allies not paying enough into the alliance.

“Look, Americans don’t like to see their friends and allies thrown under the bus. And that’s basically what was done. When Trump made those remarks, he invited Russia to attack those countries that weren’t living up to their commitments,” Esper noted.

“So you see it as a green light for him to do what?” Berman followed up.

“Well, I see it as a green light for Putin to attack another NATO ally, another neighbor neighbor country,” Esper replied, adding:

Now, I think that’s unlikely, but nonetheless, it sends all the wrong messages, not just to Vladimir Putin, but Xi Jinping in China, who’s looking aggressively at Taiwan. Plus, it sends a signal to all of our allies around the world, not just in Europe, but Japan, Korea, the Philippines and others who face aggressive actions by autocrats.

“We’ve heard from all kinds of Republican members of Congress, including right here yesterday, who say, oh, that’s just what Trump says out loud when he campaigns. They say they don’t necessarily take him at his word,” Berman added.

“Words

matter, first of all. But secondly, yeah, I do, because I’ve been in those rooms with him where he’s expressed a disdain for Germany. He doesn’t understand the importance of the alliance and how it’s critical to our security as well. And wanted to pull troops out of Europe. So look, I take him, I take him at his word. And I think it’s realistic that he gets back in office. One of the first things he’ll do is cut off assistance to Ukraine if it isn’t already cut off, and then begin trying to withdraw troops and ultimately withdraw from NATO,” Esper concluded.

Watch above via CNN.

Tags: China, CNN, Donald Trump, Mark Esper, NATO, Russia