US-Israel-Iran War Latest Update: President Donald Trump believes NATO was “tested, and they failed” during the Iran war, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday, just hours before Trump was due to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The pair will meet at the White House as the war with Iran has pushed U.S. relations with other members of the military alliance to a crisis point.
“It’s quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people over the course of the last six weeks when it’s the American people who have been funding their defense,” Leavitt told a press briefing. She said Trump looks forward to having a “very frank and candid conversation” with the NATO chief.
What Has Trump Said About NATO?
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly called NATO a “paper tiger” that is unhelpful in times of need. Asked by a Reuters reporter earlier this month about withdrawing from NATO, Trump said: “Wouldn’t you if you were me?”
The Republican president has threatened to withdraw from the 32-member transatlantic alliance and denounced Washington’s European allies for what he said was inadequate support for the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran. Trump said on Tuesday the attacks would be paused after the two sides agreed to a two-week ceasefire.
What Is the Status of NATO’s Role in the Hormuz Crisis?
Trump has called for countries that depend on oil from the Gulf region to break Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, but European countries are unlikely to join mine-clearing or other missions to free up navigation as long as hostilities continue, according to two European diplomats. Iran has vowed to obstruct the strait until the war ends.
A NATO official said Rutte would seek to increase defense-industry cooperation and to discuss the wars in Iran and Ukraine. But it is unclear whether NATO, a defensive alliance focused on North America and Europe, would play an extensive role in the Middle East. Rutte has not been tasked by European leaders with committing to an operation in the Strait of Hormuz when he meets with Trump, according to one of the diplomats.
What Is Rutte’s Approach to Trump?
Rutte, known in Europe as a “Trump whisperer,” has cultivated a warm relationship with Trump despite the tensions and referred to him last year as a “daddy” handling a schoolyard brawl between Israel and Iran. Another European diplomat described Rutte’s approach to Trump as deferential but effective.
When the two men meet, Rutte is likely to express a shared interest in restoring normal maritime trade after hostilities caused energy prices to spike globally. He is also expected to attempt to sway the U.S. leader away from public criticism of the alliance, while touting steps European countries are taking to increase defense spending.
What Is the State of the Transatlantic Alliance?
Conflict over Iran has worsened transatlantic anxieties over Ukraine, Greenland, and military spending, although senior U.S. officials have privately reassured European governments that the administration remains committed to NATO, according to one of two European officials involved in such conversations.
“This is a dangerous point for the transatlantic alliance,” said Oana Lungescu, a former NATO spokesperson now at the Royal United Services Institute. Trump’s focus on the Middle East has also further threatened to divert U.S. weapons from Ukraine, whose defense is a major priority for most of NATO’s European members.
What Is the White House’s Message to NATO?
“He has been disappointed by NATO and other allies’ unwillingness to be helpful throughout Operation Epic Fury, even though his effort to destroy the threat posed by Iran is to their benefit,” said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly. “As he said, the United States will remember.”
NATO was tested and they FAILED — Leavitt’s DIRECT QUOTE from Trump
Trump will have ‘very frank and candid’ chat with NATO chief Rutte soon https://t.co/Eg6xkCvkGg pic.twitter.com/6ziMUaQG9S
— RT (@RT_com) April 8, 2026
The White House has not said whether Trump’s and Rutte’s meeting would be open to the press. Trump’s Oval Office meetings with foreign leaders are often a spectacle, with both praise and grievances aired publicly before television cameras.
FAQs: Trump and NATO
Q: What did the White House say about NATO’s performance during the Iran war?
A: Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said NATO was “tested, and they failed,” adding, “It’s quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people.”
Q: What has Trump called NATO?
A: Trump has repeatedly called NATO a “paper tiger” and has threatened to withdraw from the alliance.
Q: Will NATO help secure the Strait of Hormuz?
A: European countries are unlikely to join such missions as long as hostilities continue, according to European diplomats.
Q: Who is Mark Rutte?
A: NATO’s Secretary-General, known as a “Trump whisperer” for his ability to manage the U.S. president.
Q: What is the state of the transatlantic alliance?
A: A former NATO spokesperson called it “a dangerous point for the transatlantic alliance.”
Q: What is the White House’s message?
A: “The United States will remember,” spokeswoman Anna Kelly said.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
