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President Donald Trump said the United States should reconsider its membership in NATO while criticizing allies for not assisting in the war in Iran.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said NATO membership is “certainly something that we should think about,” after allies rebuffed his requests for help.
Trump said NATO countries support the U.S. objective of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon but have been unwilling to take part in the conflict.
“Nobody wants to have Iran within nuclear because these people are crazy. They’re absolutely crazy, and they’re vicious, violent,” Trump said. “Everyone agrees with this, but they don’t want to help.”
He said the U.S. has taken note of allies’ position.
“We, as the United States, have to remember that, because we think it’s pretty shocking,” Trump said.
Trump said the lack of support reflects poorly on the alliance, arguing that the U.S. has consistently supported its allies.
“We help them, and they didn’t help us, and I think that’s a very bad thing for NATO,” he said.
He also said the U.S. was not obliged to assist when Russia invaded Ukraine, appearing to equate that conflict with the war in Iran.
When asked whether there would be repercussions for NATO, Trump said there would be none but described the situation as damaging to the partnership.
“Well, no, I just think that it’s not good for a partnership, when they say, ‘what you’re doing is a great thing, but we’re not going to help,’” Trump said.
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