WASHINGTON D.C. — May 1, 2026 — President Donald Trump sharply criticized NATO allies Friday, accusing them of providing “zero help” during recent U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, including efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid disruptions to global oil shipping.
In a 14-second video clip posted by the U.S. Department of State on X (formerly Twitter), Trump told a crowd at an event in The Villages, Florida:
“We got ZERO help from NATO for Iran. We got NO HELP, ZERO FROM NATO! You know? WE SPENT TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON NATO AND GOT NO HELP. We didn’t need it but we got none.”
The remarks were delivered from behind a podium featuring the presidential seal, against a blue backdrop reading “GOLDEN YEARS” and “NO TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY,” with repeated references to The Villages, Florida. Trump gestured emphatically with his right hand while speaking.
The comments come in the wake of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes launched in late February 2026 targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, missile programs, and military infrastructure. The operations followed Iran’s attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation, which threatened roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments and drove up energy prices worldwide. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed during the campaign, escalating regional tensions.
NATO, established as a defensive alliance under Article 5 (which only activates in the event of an attack on a member state), has not participated in the offensive actions or subsequent stabilization efforts in the Persian Gulf. European leaders have cited the conflict as outside the alliance’s core mandate and expressed reluctance to commit forces to what they view as a U.S.-led Middle East operation.
Trump has long criticized NATO burden-sharing, repeatedly pressing allies to meet the 2% of GDP defense spending target. Friday’s remarks echo his longstanding position that the United States shoulders a disproportionate share of the alliance’s costs while receiving insufficient reciprocal support on global security priorities.
The State Department’s decision to share the clip on its official X account underscores the administration’s frustration with European allies. As of Friday evening, the post had garnered over 400 likes and thousands of views, sparking heated debate online. Critics argued NATO is not an “offensive alliance” and should not be expected to join non-Article 5 conflicts, while supporters praised Trump for highlighting what they call unfair burden-sharing.
The White House has not issued an immediate response to the State Department post, but the video continues to circulate widely on social media.
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