President Donald Trump has stated that the United States is “strongly considering” withdrawing from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), according to an interview with Britain’s Daily Telegraph. Trump described the alliance as a “paper tiger” and suggested that U.S. membership is “beyond reconsideration” [1][2].
The remarks were made in the context of NATO allies’ refusal to support U.S. military actions against Iran, particularly concerning the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of support from NATO members, including Italy, France, Spain, and Britain [2][3].
In the interview, Trump emphasized his longstanding skepticism about NATO, stating, “I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too” [4]. When asked if he would reconsider U.S. membership in NATO following the Iran conflict, Trump replied, “Oh yes, I would say (it’s) beyond reconsideration” [3].
Republican Rep. Don Bacon has warned that a unilateral withdrawal from NATO could lead to significant internal conflict within the Republican Party. Bacon suggested that such a move might provoke a “civil war” within the party [5].
Earlier, on March 17, Trump criticized NATO’s decision not to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a “very foolish mistake.” He indicated at that time that the U.S. might need to reassess its relationship with the alliance [6].
What Is Known
Trump’s comments have been confirmed by multiple sources, including Reuters and the Associated Press. The statements reflect ongoing tensions between the U.S. and NATO allies regarding military strategy in the Middle East [1][2][3].
What Remains Unclear
As of April 1, 2026, no major left-leaning or right-leaning U.S. media outlets have reported on Trump’s interview with The Telegraph. Additionally, the legal implications of a unilateral U.S. withdrawal from NATO have not been addressed in the current reports [7].
This article was generated by Bluxle's AI system based on research from multiple news sources. All facts are sourced and cited below. The AI is designed to be neutral and fact-based with no editorial opinion.
Sources & Citations
Weighted by citation frequency — sources cited more often carry greater influence.
Research Basis
This article was researched across outlets representing a range of political perspectives. Only sources whose facts are directly used appear in Sources & Citations above.
Report an Issue
Tell us what you noticed. Our editors will review it.
✓ Report received. Thank you!