Rutte deploys 'Trump Trillion' charts to soothe US president ahead of Ankara summit as Trump doubles down on Iran war criticism
NATO chief Mark Rutte brought glossy charts to the Oval Office crediting Donald Trump with a surge in European defense spending, but the US president kept up his attacks on allies for not backing the Iran campaign as a pivotal Ankara summit nears.
Oval Office flattery and charts
Rutte entered the meeting with large 'Trump Trillion' boards showing defense spending increases in Europe and Canada since Trump took office, saying the figure had risen by $1.2 trillion. He credited Trump personally with prodding allies to spend more on their militaries. Trump called Rutte 'a good man' and said anyone else 'probably wouldn't even have come today,' but he did not relent on his criticism of other NATO members.
Anybody else probably wouldn't even have come today.
The Iran war rift
The meeting took place against the backdrop of the US-Israel attack on Iran on February 28, launched without consulting allies. Trump was angered that Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Spain refused to offer military backing or unfettered overflight rights. He said he felt 'let down' and that the US had 'demolished Iran literally in the first week.' The Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted, and reopening it has been a US demand. Rutte defended allied support, noting that 4,000–5,000 US aircraft missions flew from European bases during the conflict, including 500 from Italy in Operation Epic Fury.
We demolished Iran literally in the first week but it would have been nice if they would have said, 'We'd like to help.'
This is essentially about the nuclear capability Iran almost got its hands on.
- US and Israel launch joint attack on Iran without consulting NATO allies.
- Pentagon announces six-month review of US troops in Europe.
- Rutte meets Trump at the White House, presents 'Trump Trillion' charts.
- NATO leaders summit opens in Ankara.
Troop review and alliance strain
Days earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told allies in Brussels that the Pentagon will conduct a six-month review of US troop levels in Europe, warning of possible reductions. Washington is also reducing the pool of military assets available to NATO, shifting focus toward China and asking Europe to take primary responsibility for its own conventional defense. Trump has previously questioned the alliance's mutual defense clause and suggested leaving NATO. He also threatened to annex Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory, before backing down in January after weeks of tension.
The NATO summit carries a potential for significant risk because Trump is upset and erratic, and even if Rutte comes and thinks he has an understanding with Trump, who knows what two weeks later will bring.
Ankara summit stakes
Trump told reporters he would attend the July 7–8 summit in Ankara only out of respect for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, adding he would not have gone otherwise. He also signaled he is likely to approve the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, a long-stalled deal Vice President JD Vance said is under legal review. Rutte emerged from the Oval Office insisting Trump is 'completely committed to the NATO alliance' and would 'absolutely' protect Europe in case of attack.
Europe's defense burden shift
The same day, leaders of Italy, the UK, Germany, France, and Poland met in Berlin for an E5 summit, reaffirming European defense cooperation. But the US message remains clear: Europe must do more for its own security as US strategic priorities pivot away from the continent.
