Trump threatens to withhold NATO support after allies rebuff Iran war help, calls NYT analysis 'treasonous'

Alliance rift deepens

President Donald Trump sharply criticised European NATO allies on Monday, saying they had failed to support the United States in its war against Iran. Speaking at the White House, he named the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. "We asked them to come, and they were not there for us," Trump said, without offering specifics. The remarks came hours before NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was due to arrive in Washington for a three-day visit.

Trump linked the perceived snub to a broader threat: if allies refuse help on "small things," the US might withhold its own security guarantees. "We can do the same to them if we want, and we might," he said. The president noted that Washington spends hundreds of millions of dollars protecting Europe from Russia, yet received a "stupid" answer when it sought assistance against Iran.

The Iran war and a disputed balance sheet

The exchange follows nearly four months of hostilities that began with Operation Epic Fury on 28 February 2026. A memorandum of understanding to end the fighting was signed last week, but its durability is already in question. Iran has again threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli actions in southern Lebanon.

Trump vented his fury at a New York Times analysis by journalist Neil MacFarquhar that argued the war had achieved little. On his Truth Social platform, the president wrote: "The way the Corrupt and Failing New York Times is covering stories on a very battered and beat up Iran, through FAKE & MADE UP 'FACTS' is, in my opinion, 'TREASONOUS.'" He threatened to add the reporting to his multibillion-dollar lawsuit against the paper.

“Their Military is DONE, their Navy is GONE, their Air Force is GONE, their Launching Pads, Missiles, Drones and Manufacturing of same, is almost GONE, their top two sets of Leaders are GONE, their Inflation is at 250%, their Economy is BROKEN, their Soldiers aren't being paid, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN, THE OIL IS GUSHING, and the U.S. Stock Market and Jobs are at record HIGHS.”

The Times analysis countered that the strait's closure was triggered by Trump's own war, that Iran's power structure remains intact and possibly strengthened, and that the framework agreement secured Tehran sanctions relief and economic aid. "In sum, the US is now worse off than before the war," the piece concluded.

“Trump sells the opening of the Strait of Hormuz as a success, even though its closure was only triggered by the war he ordered.”

Rutte visit and alliance strain

Mark Rutte is scheduled to meet Trump at the White House between Tuesday and Thursday, along with other senior US officials. The visit was planned before the latest outburst but now takes place against a backdrop of acute tension. Washington has long pressed European NATO members to shoulder more of the defence burden, and since Trump's return to office in January 2025 it has announced troop reductions on the continent.

Diplomatic track in Switzerland

Parallel to the public recriminations, US and Iranian negotiators have been meeting in Switzerland under the leadership of Vice President JD Vance. The talks aim to lay the groundwork for a final settlement, with the status of the Strait of Hormuz and the situation in southern Lebanon among the agenda items. Trump struck a more measured tone on that front, saying: "As long as they respect us, I don't want to use the word fear, because that's inappropriate, as long as they respect us, we will have no problems."

Senator Lindsey Graham, a long-time Iran hawk, backed the president's attack on the Times, calling his comments "spot on" and describing the article as "an insult to our men and women in uniform."