Trump thinking about leaving NATO: sees it as "paper tiger"

Signaling a seismic shift in the post-World War II global order, President Donald Trump said he is “strongly considering” withdrawing the United States from NATO, delivering one of his clearest warnings that Washington may no longer be willing to underwrite European security without reciprocal support. If this comes to pass, this will render NATO impotent.

Delivered in a characteristically blunt interview with The Telegraph, Trump argued the alliance has become a “one-way street,” with the United States expected to defend Europe while allies decline to support American operations.

The catalyst for this potential divorce is the refusal of European allies to support the U.S.-led effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for 20 percent of the world’s oil, which has been temporarily shuttered by Tehran.

Asked whether he would reconsider U.S. membership after the war with Iran is over, Trump did not hedge.

“Oh yes, I would say beyond reconsideration,” he said. “I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.”

Trump pointed directly to European reluctance to support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for 20 percent of the world’s oil that has been shuttered by Iran, as evidence that the alliance is failing. He noted that while the United States has “automatically” stood by Europe, including in non-member states like Ukraine, the favor has not been returned.

“They weren’t there for us,” Trump remarked, specifically lambasting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for a lack of naval support.

Senior administration officials are now echoing the president’s frustration.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that continued U.S. participation in NATO cannot be taken for granted if allies expect protection while limiting American military flexibility.

“If NATO is just about us defending Europe if they’re attacked but then denying us basing rights when we need them, that’s not a very good arrangement,” Rubio said.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth went further, arguing the war has exposed a fundamental imbalance.

“You don’t have much of an alliance if you have countries that are not willing to stand with you when you need them,” Hegseth stated.

The statements point to a hardening of the administration’s NATO stance. Sources suggest the White House is eyeing a model that would block delinquent or uncooperative members from decision-making and is revisiting plans to withdraw troops from Germany.

As the U.S. and Israel continue air strikes against Iran’s nuclear program, the message from Washington is clear: the era of the American “blank check” for European security is over. If NATO will not serve as a platform for mutual security, President Trump appears ready to walk away from the table entirely.

This move seems to be a long time coming. The U.S. has always carried most of the financial burden for NATO, and even when Trump demanded they pay their share, the treaty nations always got a bargain price for membership compared to the United States.

According to Grok: 

In absolute dollar terms (total defense spending, which funds NATO's real strength): The United States dominates, spending an estimated $980 billion in 2025 — about 62% of all NATO defense spending combined (total NATO ~$1.59 trillion).

Next are Germany ($94 billion) and the UK ($91 billion). All other members are far behind.

I suspect NATO members are quivering in their boots when considering the global implications.

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