Donald Trump said Friday that the United States does not need to be on standby to support NATO, comments that again raised questions about the U.S. president’s commitment to the mutual defense provisions at the heart of the transatlantic alliance.
Speaking at an investment forum in Miami on Friday night, Trump said he was upset that European NATO countries had refused to provide material support to the United States as it approaches the fourth week of its war against Iran.
European allies were not consulted by the US over its decision to attack Iran late last month, and many alliance leaders opposed the move.
“We’ve always been ready to support them, but now, based on their actions, I don’t think we need to be anymore, do we?” Trump told the audience.
‘I’ve been saying that. Why would we be there for them if they’re not there for us? They weren’t there for us.’
The president has had a back-and-forth relationship with the alliance and, on several occasions, made comments that raised doubts about his willingness to adhere to NATO’s Article 5, according to which an attack against one member state is an attack on all.
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In the 2024 campaign, Trump became famous for encouraging Russian President Vladimir Putin to attack European NATO countries that did not pay their fair share in defense.
His relationship with several European leaders, however, appeared to improve throughout 2025.
But relations between Washington and Brussels deteriorated again in 2026, after Trump intensified his threats to invade Greenland, which is an overseas territory of Denmark.
