Nancy Pelosi is planning to invite NATOS's top official Jens Stoltenberg to address a joint session of Congress. | Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images Congress Pelosi, McConnell to invite NATO's secretary-general to address Congress

President Donald Trump has been sharply critical of NATO, calling into question the efficacy of the alliance, complaining about the United State shouldering too much of the financial burden and even threatening to pull out of the military partnership.

But as the 70th anniversary of the transatlantic organization nears, legislative leaders are readying to welcome NATO’s secretary-general to the Capitol for a rare speech to a joint session of Congress — a show of support that risks piquing the president's ire.


Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell plan to invite Jens Stoltenberg, NATO top official since 2014, to address a joint session of Congress in April — part of a wide-ranging anniversary celebration in Washington.

Pelosi and McConnell’s invitation — first reported by POLITICO — is aimed at showing the bipartisan support for NATO. It will also be a chance for Stoltenberg to address “concerns that many Americans have about NATO, including burden-sharing and whether NATO is reforming itself to address 21st century challenges," according to a source familiar with the planning.

Indeed, much of the Republican leadership has backed NATO even as Trump has turned sharply critical against the alliance. The Republican House passed a resolution offering support for NATO last Congress. Last month, Pelosi traveled to Brussels to meet with NATO’s leadership.

