- Title: Trump's comments on NATO as he reportedly considers alliance exit
- Date: 1st April 2026
- Summary: U.S. President Donald Trump on March 26 sharply criticised NATO, saying the alliance had provided no meaningful support during recent conflict with Iran and questioning whether it would come to Washington’s aid in a larger crisis. Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said he had long viewed NATO as a “paper tiger,” arguing that while the United State
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: ALLIANCE DEFENCE IRAN MILITARY NATO RUSSIA SPENDING STRAIT OF HORMUZ TRUMP UKRAINE US WAR
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: US
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,North America
- Reuters ID: LVA00D919001042026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: U.S. President Donald Trump said he was strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO after allies failed to back U.S. military action against Iran, according to an interview with Britain's Daily Telegraph.
Trump described the alliance as a "paper tiger" and said removing the United States from the defence pact was now "beyond reconsideration," the newspaper reported. He said he had long held doubts about NATO's credibility.
"Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration," Trump told the newspaper when asked about whether he would reconsider U.S. membership of the alliance after the conflict.
"I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way."
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