Had he just said that NATO countries are failing their duty as a member as they're not paying the agreed amount of money for the alliance he would actually sound sane. Most Europeans agree to that. The governments have been slacking for years, and now there is a war. Again.
It's not even that simple, because paying can be done with money, but you can also send troops, or have troops ready to protect other countries, send equipment, etc.
So it's not that black and white who pays what.
Also I think the biggest think Trump did to NATO for the EU, is that for the first time people actually realized the US isn't always the allie we thought. It really depends on who's president, something before Trump most people never thought about. It also really pushed the point of having an European army and other changes like that.
I don't think he's talking to NATO countries anymore than he's talking to his party.
I think he's asking Putin for help again.
I don't know that Putin really wants anything more from Trump though. He got the discord he wanted to distract the US. He got to flex on all of the world by Trump getting elected and demonstrating his spook prowess.
But, that's just my opinion, Putin has forgotten more about international politics and power than I'll likely ever know.