Trump slams NATO as US presses Iran offensive, calls alliance ‘inactive’

Donald Trump sharply criticised NATO on Thursday, accusing the alliance of failing to act as the United States continues its military campaign against Iran.

Speaking during a Cabinet meeting on 26 March 2026, Trump said the conflict had become a “test for NATO”, arguing that the alliance had done little while the US carried out the bulk of the fighting.

“Very disappointed in NATO, it’s done nothing,” Trump said, adding that allies should get involved before or during a war, not after it has already begun.
The president suggested the United States often ends up defending allies that would not do the same in return.
“We will come to their rescue but they will never come to ours. We don’t need them,” he said. Trump also took aim at the United Kingdom, saying Washington did not want to be dragged into a British war and claiming British aircraft carriers were “toys compared to what we have”.
While criticising allies, Trump described major US military successes against Iran. He said Iranian forces had attacked several countries in the region — including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait — as well as the United States.
“They started shooting,” Trump said. According to the president, US forces have destroyed Iran’s air force, struck drone and missile factories, and eliminated multiple levels of the country’s military leadership.
“All of their leadership is gone,” Trump said, claiming that even newly appointed commanders had been removed after failing to negotiate a deal.
He also said 154 Iranian ships had been destroyed and claimed Iran no longer had the ability to deploy naval mines. Trump said the military operation was originally expected to take four to six weeks but was now “way ahead of schedule”.

He warned Iran to end what he described as a shutdown affecting a key shipping route, saying the United States would take “very drastic measures” if it continued.
At the same time, Trump said Iran still had an opportunity to reach an agreement.
“Iran has a chance to permanently abandon nuclear ambitions,” he said. “If they don’t, then we are their worst nightmare.”

Also read: Donald Trump claims Iran ‘begging’ for deal, asks it to ‘get serious soon, before it is too late’

He added that if Iran agreed to what he called the “right deal”, the strait would reopen. “They now have a chance and it’s up to them,” Trump said, adding that the war “will end soon” and “won’t be long.”