European Security — 2026-04-10

Trump Calls NATO a Paper Tiger, Floats Withdrawal After Confrontation with Rutte at White House

President Trump branded NATO a "paper tiger" after a 90-minute closed-door meeting with Secretary General Rutte, fuming that allies refused to help open the Strait of Hormuz or support the US-Israel war on Iran. The White House confirmed Trump discussed pulling the US out of NATO. On Truth Social, Trump wrote: "NATO WASN'T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM." European officials told Politico the meeting "went awry" with Trump hurling insults at Rutte. Trump also renewed his threat over Greenland.

Analysis
First time a sitting president has discussed NATO withdrawal with the Secretary General face-to-face. European refusal to support Hormuz operations provided Trump with the political pretext, but the structural critique, that NATO failed its collective defense test, will outlast the immediate Iran context and reshape the 2027 European defense deadline.
2 sources
  1. Trump floats NATO pullout as he meets Secretary General Mark Rutte - Washington Post
  2. Trump blasts NATO after closed-door Rutte meeting - France 24

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