Trump criticises NATO over Iran in meeting with alliance's boss

US President Donald Trump expressed intense frustration with NATO during a private meeting with Secretary-General Mark Rutte, pushing the military alliance to a crisis point over the "Iran war." Trump criticized several NATO allies for failing to support the US military campaign against Iran, citing denied airspace and lack of naval forces, and declared on Truth Social that "NATO wasn’t there when we needed them." Rutte acknowledged that "some" NATO countries had indeed failed their commitments, though he noted the "large majority of Europeans" had been helpful. Trump has repeatedly labeled NATO a "paper tiger" and threatened withdrawal due to perceived inadequate support for the US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran. This ongoing fallout continues to strain transatlantic ties, suggesting potentially long-lasting diplomatic consequences for the alliance.