Trump, NATO allies clash over Iran nuclear deal, military spending
President Donald Trump renews pressure on NATO allies regarding their military spending and cooperation, with the upcoming summit in Turkey next week on the agenda. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker highlights Trump’s frustration with allies like Spain and discusses Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S-300 missile defense system. He emphasizes the need for strong, capable allies and touches on the global appreciation for American culture seen at the World Cup.
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President Donald Trump targeted the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), venting frustration about the alliance in Thursday social media posts.
“The United States spends more money on NATO than any other country, by far, to protect them, without getting any benefit from so doing: U.S. 999 Billion Dollars, United Kingdom, 90.5 Billion Dollars, France, 66.5 Billion Dollars, Italy, 48.8 Billion Dollars, Poland, 44.3 Billion Dollars. Others, including Germany, are MUCH LOWER. (2014-2025) Ridiculous!” the president asserted in a Thursday morning Truth Social post.
A NATO release, which explains that the “cut-off date for information used in this report was 3 June 2025” and that “figures for 2024 and 2025 are estimates,” listed the estimated 2025 U.S. defense expenditure as $980 billion, the United Kingdom’s as $90.508 billion, France as $66.531 billion, Italy as $48.8 billion, and Poland as $44.314 billion.
MOST TRUMP SUPPORTERS STILL BACK NATO DESPITE YEARS OF TRUMP’S CRITICISM, NEW POLL FINDS
President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One as he departs Bismarck Municipal Airport on July 1, 2026, in Bismarck, N.D. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
America’s commander in chief also called out NATO in a post on Thursday night.
“Ridiculous for the U.S.A. to continue along this one sided path when the relationship is not reciprocal. They were not there for us!!!” Trump exclaimed in the post.
The president’s vocal complaints about NATO came ahead of the alliance’s upcoming summit in Ankara, Turkey, next week. Trump is scheduled to attend.
President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 24, 2026. (Aaron Schwartz / AFP via Getty Images)
Trump met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House last month.
Trump has been critical of NATO amid the U.S. war with Iran.
TRUMP ‘RIGHT TO BE OUTRAGED’ BY EUROPE’S BETRAYAL ON IRAN, SAYS FORMER THATCHER ADVISOR
President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he leaves the stage after delivering remarks during the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s 2026 Policy Conference at the Washington Hilton on June 26, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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“Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger!” Trump asserted in a mid-April Truth Social post.