Donald Trump confronts Nato chief at White House as he suggests leaving military alliance in two-hour meeting

Peter Stevens
Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:53:30 +0000

Donald Trump has held talks with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte just hours after suggesting the US could leave the military alliance.

At a press conference ahead of the meeting, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "I have a direct quote from the President of the United States on Nato, and I will share it with all of you: ‘They were tested, and they failed'."

Mr Trump said last week he was strongly considering leaving the alliance, branding it a "paper tiger" - a term he has repeatedly used to describe the transatlantic bloc.

The US remains Nato’s largest contributor, spending $935billion on defence - nearly double the combined total of the rest of the alliance in 2024.

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Mrs Leavitt added: "I would add that it was quite sad that Nato turned their backs on the American people over the course of the last six weeks, when it’s the American people who have been funding their defence."

Following the meeting, Mr Rutte said he had a "frank and open" discussion with the President.

When asked whether some Nato members had failed, he replied: "Some of them yes, but a large majority of European countries, and that's what we discussed today, have done what they promised before in a case like this."

He told CNN: "I was also able to point to the fact that the large majority of European nations has been helpful with basing, with logistics, with overflights, with making sure that they lift up to the commitments."

Mrs Leavitt had earlier said the pair would have a "very frank and candid conversation".

Writing on his Truth Social platform after the meeting, Mr Trump said: "Nato wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again.

"Remember Greenland, that big, poorly run, piece of ice!"

Reports have suggested Mr Trump is considering reducing US support for Nato by relocating American troops from certain Western European countries.

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Rather than withdrawing entirely - which would require congressional approval - troops could be moved from nations such as Spain, Italy, France and Germany to Eastern European countries including Romania, Poland, Lithuania and Greece.

Spain is reported to have blocked the use of its airspace for strikes on Iran, while German officials criticised the conflict and Italy restricted access to one of its air bases.

Romania, by contrast, approved the use of its bases by the US Air Force.

White House officials also told the Wall Street Journal the President could shut a US military base in at least one European country, possibly Spain or Germany.

Mr Rutte has been dubbed the "Trump whisperer" in Europe, with the pair maintaining a relatively warm relationship.

One European diplomat described the Nato chief’s approach as deferential but effective.

Mr Rutte was expected to raise maritime security concerns and discuss ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, while also attempting to temper the President’s criticism of the alliance.

Unlike previous engagements, Wednesday’s meeting was not open to the press.

Earlier this week, Mr Trump suggested his frustrations with Nato stemmed in part from tensions over Greenland - the Danish-controlled territory he has repeatedly said the US should acquire.

He said: "It all began with, if you want to know the truth, Greenland. We want Greenland. They don’t want to give it to us. And I said, 'bye, bye'."