03/16/2026March 16, 2026Trump criticizes NATO allies for failing to back US in Strait of Hormuz
Trump says he’s asked roughly a half-dozen other countries to send warships to reopen the vital Strait of HormuzImage: Alex Brandon/AP Photo/picture alliance
President Donald Trump lashed out at NATO allies, criticizing what he said was their reluctance to help the US secure the Strait of Hormuz.
“They should be jumping to help us,” he said in response to a reporter’s question, asking, “Why are we protecting countries when they do not protect us?”
In his prepared remarks, Trump again urged countries to send ships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, though he avoided naming allies that were unwilling to take part.
When he later took questions from journalists, he sharpened his criticism, saying some NATO allies are lukewarm to the idea.
“We don’t need anybody,” he said, despite earlier saying, “We want them to come and help of us with the strait.”
Trump said he made the request because he “wanted to see how they [allies] will react.” He added that “We have been protecting these countries for years with NATO, because NATO is US.”
Trump said he had talked with French President Emmanuel Macron about it and his response had been “an eight, not perfect.”
“I think he’s going to help,” Trump said
He also again slammed the United Kingdom for refusing to join the war against Iran, saying, “We worked with them in Ukraine, we don’t need to work with them.”