Trump Considers Withdrawal from NATO Amid Conflict Over War in Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he is seriously contemplating the option of withdrawing the United States from NATO. This revelation came during an interview published in the Telegraph on April 1, 2026, coinciding with increasing frustration among American officials over NATO allies' reluctance to back the U.S. in its ongoing conflict with Iran.

When asked if he would reconsider U.S. membership in the alliance following the war, Trump responded, "Oh, yes, I would say that it's already beyond reconsideration. I have never been inclined towards NATO." These remarks from the president, who has long criticized the alliance, underscore his views on NATO, which he has referred to as a "paper tiger." Trump further noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin shares this sentiment.

Trump emphasized that the United States has "always been" on the side of the alliance when it came to the war in Ukraine. "Ukraine was not our problem. It was a test, and we were there for them, and we will always be there for them. They were not there for us," Trump stated in his interview with the Telegraph.

Matviy Uitaker, the U.S. Ambassador to NATO, also pointed out that Trump is overestimating U.S. support for European efforts in Ukraine in light of recent events. "Everything is on the table now," Uitaker remarked in an interview with Newsmax.

The Trump administration effectively halted most new financial aid to Ukraine, shifting the financial burden of supporting Kyiv to European allies. The U.S. still provides intelligence support to Ukraine and sells crucial equipment, such as Patriot interceptors, through NATO.

Trump's comments regarding NATO have elicited responses from European leaders. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, commenting on the president's statements, asserted that he would continue to "act in the interests of the British nation" despite the "noise."

Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak called for calm and emphasized the importance of continuing transatlantic cooperation. "There is no NATO without the U.S., but there is also no strong U.S. without allies," the minister stated on Twitter.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb later noted that he had a "constructive discussion and exchange of ideas regarding NATO, Ukraine, and Iran" with the American leader. "Problems exist to be solved, pragmatically," added Stubb, who is considered one of Trump's closest advisors among European leaders.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News on March 31 that the U.S. would "review" its relationship with NATO after allies failed to assist Washington in the Middle East. Trump made similar comments last week in Miami, stating, "We have always been on their side (NATO), but now, based on their actions, I think we don't need to be, do we?"

The ongoing war between the U.S. and Iran, which has lasted over a month, has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and triggered a global spike in oil and gas prices. European allies rejected Trump's calls to send military ships to reopen the strait, with some closing their airspace to American planes involved in military operations.

Washington did not consult its European partners before the operation, and the principle of NATO's collective defense does not obligate partners to engage in offensive wars. In 2023, the U.S. Congress passed a bill—initiated by then-Senator Rubio—that prohibits any U.S. president from unilaterally withdrawing from NATO without the approval of two-thirds of the Senate or an act of Congress.

"Trump is escalating an old model that other NATO leaders should be familiar with by now," said Jörn Fleck, senior director at the Atlantic Council's Europe Center, in an interview with the Kyiv Independent earlier this week. According to the expert, "European leaders should think carefully before succumbing to provocations or hints regarding NATO and Article 5."

Commenting on Trump's earlier doubts about NATO commitments, Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, noted that these comments are a "gift to Putin," but emphasized that the U.S. president's rhetoric often changes and has little "lasting power."

Jamie Shea, a security expert and former NATO official, nonetheless warned on March 31 that Trump's comments "send the wrong signals to Russia and encourage the Kremlin in its attempts to undermine and challenge NATO."

Trump has questioned the value of the alliance even before his second term, criticizing other members for not spending enough on their defense. Under pressure from Trump, all NATO members met the defense spending target of 2% of GDP last year and agreed to raise that benchmark to 5%.