“I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way,” Trump added.
His remarks were published hours after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington may need to reconsider its relationship with NATO once the war against Iran is over, sharply escalating pressure on European allies that America accuses of withholding support.
Still, Trump cannot legally exit NATO unilaterally. Under a 2023 law passed under former President Joe Biden, a withdrawal would require backing from two-thirds of the Senate or an Act of Congress.
Trump also slammed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer again for Britain’s refusal to back America in its war with Iran, and belittled the U.K.’s military.
“You don’t even have a navy. You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work,” he scoffed about Britain’s fleet of warships.
Victor Jack contributed to this report.
