Photo: Ministerie van Defensie / korporaal Aaron Zwaal | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Wikimedia Commons
Trump and Rubio Raise NATO Exit Questions After European Allies Limit Iran War Support
President Trump has publicly and privately threatened to reconsider or even withdraw the United States from NATO—telling The Daily Telegraph he is "strongly considering" pulling out, calling the alliance a "paper tiger," berating allies for not sending warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and telling advisers he may weaken U.S. commitments—though withdrawal would require two‑thirds Senate consent. Senator Marco Rubio said the U.S. must "reexamine" its NATO relationship after some European partners, including Spain and France, restricted U.S. basing and overflight for operations in the Iran conflict, while leaders such as U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer have publicly reaffirmed commitment to the alliance.
📌 Key Facts
- President Trump told Britain’s Daily Telegraph he is “strongly considering” pulling the United States out of NATO over allies’ refusal to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, called NATO a “paper tiger,” and said U.S. membership is “beyond reconsideration.”
- Trump publicly berated U.S. allies—especially the U.K.—on social media and to reporters, calling them “cowards,” urging them to “go get your own oil” or “go to the Strait of Hormuz themselves and just take it,” and criticizing British and French naval support as inadequate or “VERY UNHELPFUL.”
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox News the U.S. must “reexamine” its relationship with NATO after the Iran conflict, warning the alliance could become a “one‑way street” if European partners deny use of bases and airspace; he and reports cited instances in which countries including Spain and France restricted U.S. basing or overflight for Operation Epic Fury.
- The Wall Street Journal reported Trump privately raised with advisers (including Rubio) the possibility of withdrawing from NATO or otherwise weakening the U.S. commitment; the White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Trump’s disappointment with allies is clear and “the United States will remember.”
- By law, a U.S. withdrawal or suspension of NATO membership would require the advice and consent of two‑thirds of the Senate, according to Congress.gov cited in reporting.
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly reaffirmed the U.K.’s commitment to NATO, and Britain’s foreign minister convened a 35‑nation virtual meeting on postwar shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz; reporting also emphasized that NATO allies were not consulted about the initial Iran war effort—a key reason European governments cite for declining to send warships.
- Iranian officials warned the Strait of Hormuz “will certainly reopen, but not for you,” while U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, said U.S. forces have achieved air control allowing B‑52s to fly over Iranian territory even as Iran retains missile and drone capabilities; Trump also asserted he had prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, despite no public evidence that near‑bomb‑grade material was destroyed.
- Trump has pushed allies not only to send naval forces during the conflict but also to contribute to postwar recovery and reconstruction—seeking longer‑term security and rebuilding commitments beyond immediate naval deployments.
📊 Relevant Data
84% of oil and 83% of LNG shipped through the Strait of Hormuz in 2024 went to Asian markets.
Asian countries most at risk from oil and gas supply disruptions in Strait of Hormuz — Zero Carbon Analytics
In 2024, the United States imported about 0.5 million barrels per day of crude oil and condensate from Persian Gulf countries through the Strait of Hormuz, representing about 2% of US petroleum liquids consumption.
Amid regional conflict, the Strait of Hormuz remains critical oil chokepoint — U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
56% of Europeans oppose the US and Israel's military intervention against Iran, according to a survey.
Polls show majority of Europeans oppose US, Israeli strikes on Iran — Anadolu Agency
Households in majority African American census tracts pay an average of 5.1% of their income for energy, compared to the national average of 3.2%.
National study finds energy bills hit minority households the hardest — Binghamton University
📰 Source Timeline (7)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
April 01, 2026
3:10 PM
Trump lashes out at NATO allies over unpopular Mideast war, widening transatlantic rift
New information:
- Trump told Britain’s Telegraph newspaper he is 'strongly considering' pulling the U.S. out of NATO and that reconsidering U.S. membership after the Iran war is 'beyond reconsideration,' some of his clearest public comments yet about a possible withdrawal.
- Trump publicly lashed out at allies like the United Kingdom on Truth Social, calling them 'cowards' for refusing to join the Iran war and telling them to 'go get your own oil' or 'go to the Strait of Hormuz themselves and just take it.'
- The article details that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed the U.K. is 'fully committed to NATO' and called it 'the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen,' while Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is convening a 35‑nation virtual meeting to talk about postwar shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz.
- PBS/AP emphasize that no NATO ally was consulted or asked to join the initial Iran war effort, a point European leaders are quietly using to justify their refusal to send warships despite U.S. pressure amid surging oil prices.
- The piece notes Trump wants allies not only to send ships during the conflict but also to help 'fix damage from the war' afterward, widening the dispute beyond immediate naval deployments to longer‑term reconstruction and security commitments.
3:08 PM
Rubio says US may need to 'reexamine' NATO membership after allies blocked basing, airspace help
New information:
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a Fox News 'Hannity' interview, said there is 'no doubt' the U.S. must 'reexamine' its relationship with NATO after the Iran conflict.
- Rubio framed NATO as potentially becoming a 'one-way street' if U.S. forces cannot use European bases and airspace 'to defend America's interests.'
- He specified that some European allies, including Spain and France, have denied or restricted U.S. basing and overflight for Operation Epic Fury, with Spain closing its airspace to U.S. planes involved in the Iran war.
- The piece reiterates that Trump has criticized France for refusing overflight for U.S. planes headed to Israel with military supplies, calling France 'VERY UNHELPFUL' on Truth Social.
2:13 PM
Trump Raises NATO Withdrawal as Allies Push Back on Iran War
New information:
- WSJ reports that Trump has recently raised with advisers the possibility of withdrawing from NATO if allies do not help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. officials.
- The article says Trump has also discussed 'finding ways to weaken the U.S. commitment' to NATO, not just formal withdrawal, and that no final decision has been made.
- WSJ specifies that these private comments were made to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others, and includes an on‑record White House response from spokeswoman Anna Kelly saying Trump’s disappointment with NATO is clear and that 'the United States will remember.'
12:38 PM
Iran War Live Updates: Trump Berates Allies While Signaling He Will Wind Down the War
New information:
- The New York Times live blog reiterates that Trump told Britain’s Telegraph he is considering pulling the U.S. out of NATO over allies’ refusal to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, framing NATO as effectively reconsidered (“beyond reconsideration”).
- It notes that in a Tuesday social‑media post Trump again berated U.S. allies, chiefly Britain, for not helping secure the Strait and said the United States would not come to their aid in the future.
- An Iranian official publicly stated that the Strait of Hormuz “will certainly reopen, but not for you,” underscoring Tehran’s intent to bar U.S. access even if traffic resumes.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. has achieved such control of Iran’s skies that B‑52 bombers are flying directly over Iranian territory, while still acknowledging Iran’s remaining missile and drone capabilities.
- Trump told reporters he believes he has achieved his primary goal of preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, despite there being no evidence that U.S. or Israeli forces have destroyed Iran’s stockpile of near‑bomb‑grade nuclear fuel.
11:24 AM
Trump says he's considering pulling US out of NATO over Iran war stance
New information:
- Trump tells The Daily Telegraph he is 'strongly considering' pulling the U.S. out of NATO over the alliance’s refusal to join his administration’s efforts in the Iran conflict, specifically by sending warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- He reiterates that he has 'always' viewed NATO as a 'paper tiger' and claims Russian President Vladimir Putin 'knows that too.'
- Trump directly criticizes U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying the U.K. doesn’t 'even have a navy' and has 'aircraft carriers that didn’t work,' while Starmer publicly responds that Britain is 'fully committed to NATO' and calls it 'the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen.'
- Trump frames NATO’s stance on Iran in contrast to U.S. support for Ukraine, arguing 'we’ve been there automatically' for allies and that NATO allies 'weren’t there for us.'
11:01 AM
Trump indicates he'll try to pull U.S. out of NATO
New information:
- CBS piece gives the exact question from The Telegraph and Trump’s fuller quote that NATO is 'a paper tiger' and that reconsidering membership is 'beyond' reconsideration.
- Article specifically notes, citing Congress.gov, that by law Trump would need advice and consent of two‑thirds of the Senate to withdraw or suspend membership.
- Story more directly connects Trump’s NATO comments to his anger at allies for not joining the Iran war despite his failure to consult them beforehand.
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted responding that the U.K. is 'fully committed to NATO' and calling it 'the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen.'