Like other American presidents before him, Trump has always demanded that Europe bear more of the burden of defending itself. What Trump really wants, however, is to be Europe’s boss, and to compel payment to America for protection. If the Europeans actually do as he asks and become self-sufficient, they will have no reason to suck up to him on tariffs or digital services or Greenland or anything else.
He will, in effect, be forcing Europe to be great again, to America’s cost, at least in his eyes.