What is the story about?
While sitting face-to-face with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, President Donald Trump voiced his dissatisfaction and frustration with Nato allies over the lack of support in the Iran war. The remarks from the American leader came when he was asked whether he still believed some European allies had treated the US unfairly, while he was sitting with Rutte at the
White House.
Trump made it clear that he was "disappointed" by the response of some of the key members of NATO, calling out the UK, Italy, Germany and France specifically. "I was disappointed with Italy. I was disappointed with the UK," he said. “We were disappointed with Germany and France. We're disappointed with most of them.”
Trump went on to accuse Spain of failing to contribute significantly to the Western alliances' overall collective efforts. "Spain is a horror show. Spain is terrible," he said. “They don't want to pay anything. They think they're in for a free ride.”
However, the American leader quickly changed his tone and praised Rutte. He said that the two leaders would now further discuss the recent developments in the conflict and the future role of Nato allies. "I have great respect for this man," he said, referring to the Nato secretary general. "We're going to be discussing what took place, and we'll see what happened.”
Trump made it clear that he wants "loyalty" from Nato. "We don't need their money. We don't need anything...I just want loyalty, you know. We're so loyal to them, we're always fighting for them. We have thousands of troops all over Europe. In Germany, we have 50,000 troops, and then you want a little, give us a little nudge, give us a little kiss. We don't want much, and they say, 'No, we can't do it'," he said.
"We're paying hundreds of millions of dollars for the troops that we have in Germany, the troops that we have in the UK, the troops that we have all over Europe," Trump added. While speaking to the reporters after the meeting, Rutte expressed optimism over Trump's commitment to Nato.
"He is completely committed to the Nato alliance," he said. “He was always clear: 'I'm committed to the NATO alliance, but I expect allies to spend more to equalise with the United States."
"What he achieved in The Hague, the 5 per cent commitment, and what you're now seeing, that in one year, we had an almost 20% increase, Europeans and Canadians, to a $139 billion spending increase, is evidence that not only was there the commitment in The Hague, but now we are delivering. This is thanks to his leadership," he added.
"The Europeans and Canada are now on a trajectory to equalise their spending with the United States," the Nato secretary general averred.
Trump made it clear that he was "disappointed" by the response of some of the key members of NATO, calling out the UK, Italy, Germany and France specifically. "I was disappointed with Italy. I was disappointed with the UK," he said. “We were disappointed with Germany and France. We're disappointed with most of them.”
Trump went on to accuse Spain of failing to contribute significantly to the Western alliances' overall collective efforts. "Spain is a horror show. Spain is terrible," he said. “They don't want to pay anything. They think they're in for a free ride.”
.@POTUS on NATO members being unwilling to help with Iran: "We were disappointed with the U.K., we were disappointed with Germany and France... Spain is terrible... but I have great respect for this man, and so we're going to be discussing what took place." pic.twitter.com/cybZhF1jVV
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 24, 2026
Trump had nice words to say for Rutte
However, the American leader quickly changed his tone and praised Rutte. He said that the two leaders would now further discuss the recent developments in the conflict and the future role of Nato allies. "I have great respect for this man," he said, referring to the Nato secretary general. "We're going to be discussing what took place, and we'll see what happened.”
Trump made it clear that he wants "loyalty" from Nato. "We don't need their money. We don't need anything...I just want loyalty, you know. We're so loyal to them, we're always fighting for them. We have thousands of troops all over Europe. In Germany, we have 50,000 troops, and then you want a little, give us a little nudge, give us a little kiss. We don't want much, and they say, 'No, we can't do it'," he said.
"We're paying hundreds of millions of dollars for the troops that we have in Germany, the troops that we have in the UK, the troops that we have all over Europe," Trump added. While speaking to the reporters after the meeting, Rutte expressed optimism over Trump's commitment to Nato.
"He is completely committed to the Nato alliance," he said. “He was always clear: 'I'm committed to the NATO alliance, but I expect allies to spend more to equalise with the United States."
"What he achieved in The Hague, the 5 per cent commitment, and what you're now seeing, that in one year, we had an almost 20% increase, Europeans and Canadians, to a $139 billion spending increase, is evidence that not only was there the commitment in The Hague, but now we are delivering. This is thanks to his leadership," he added.
"The Europeans and Canada are now on a trajectory to equalise their spending with the United States," the Nato secretary general averred.
