Donald Trump criticized NATO as "absolutely useless" during a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, Arizona [2, 3].
The comments signal a continued challenge to the traditional security architecture of the West and the financial obligations of the U.S. within the alliance.
Speaking to the crowd in Arizona, Trump targeted the organization's perceived inactivity during operations in the Strait of Hormuz [2, 3]. He said that the alliance only offered assistance after the situation had been largely resolved. "Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is nearly over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would like some help," Trump said [1].
Trump argued that the U.S. has provided massive spending to the alliance but has received zero assistance in return [1, 2]. He said that the U.S. military managed the opening of the strait without support from its allies [1, 3].
"We never needed them," Trump said [1].
The former president's rhetoric focused on the idea that the alliance is unnecessary for U.S. national security interests [1, 2]. He said the offer of help from NATO was belated and irrelevant to the actual operation [1].
This critique aligns with a broader pattern of questioning the utility of multilateral treaties. By framing the Strait of Hormuz operation as a solo American success, Trump emphasized a preference for unilateral action over coordinated alliance efforts [2, 3].
“"absolutely useless"”
Trump's comments reflect a transactional view of international diplomacy, where the value of an alliance is measured by immediate, tangible reciprocity. By highlighting the Strait of Hormuz as an example of U.S. self-reliance, he is challenging the fundamental premise of collective defense and suggesting that U.S. financial contributions to NATO do not yield proportional security benefits.
