President Donald Trump said he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO after allies refused to support the U.S. in the Iran war.
This potential withdrawal would mark a historic shift in Western security architecture and signal a breakdown in cooperation between the U.S. and its traditional European partners.
Trump criticized the alliance in remarks during early April 2026, describing NATO as a "paper tiger." He said the U.S. has spent trillions [1] on the organization while receiving insufficient support during the escalating conflict with Iran. Trump said the refusal of allies to join the fight was a betrayal.
Amid the tension, Trump announced a two-week cease-fire [2] after more than a month of fighting [2] with Iran. The move comes as the president reexamines the legal options for a total exit from the alliance.
Trump also referenced Greenland during his critiques of the alliance. "We want Greenland. They don't want to give it to us. And I said, 'bye, bye'", Trump said.
In a separate video address, Trump intensified his rhetoric toward the alliance's leadership, stating, "You're fired!" [3]
The president's frustration centers on the belief that NATO's current structure is ineffective. He said the alliance cannot survive in its current form if members do not contribute to U.S.-led military efforts in the Middle East.
“"I am strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO."”
The threat to withdraw from NATO suggests a transition toward a transactional foreign policy where U.S. security guarantees are contingent on direct military participation from allies. By linking the Iran conflict to NATO membership, the administration is attempting to redefine the alliance's scope beyond the North Atlantic, potentially forcing a systemic reorganization of how the U.S. manages global security commitments.
