Trump warns NATO faces ‘very serious examining’ over Iran war

US President Donald Trump delivered a sharp rebuke to NATO on Sunday, expressing disappointment that the alliance failed to assist the United States during its war against Iran. Speaking to reporters after arriving at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Trump warned that NATO’s role will come under “very serious examining.”

‘They weren’t there for us’

“I’m very disappointed in NATO,” Trump said. “They weren’t there for us. We pay trillions of dollars for NATO, and they weren’t there for us.” He added, “Remember what I said. NATO was not there. Now they want to come up, but there’s no real threat anymore. But NATO was not there for us.”

Questioning alliance’s purpose

Trump also questioned the broader purpose of the transatlantic alliance, noting that the US “spent trillions of dollars on NATO to help them guard, really against Russia.” He remarked, “I long thought it was a little ridiculous.” The president’s comments reflect ongoing tensions between Washington and its European allies over burden-sharing and strategic priorities, particularly following the US-Israeli offensive on Iran that began Feb. 28.