Trump complains NATO 'wasn't there when we needed them' after talks with alliance leader Rutte

In the United States on 9 April 2026, Trump complained that NATO 'wasn't there when we needed them' after talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte at the White House. Trump criticised NATO over the Iran war and recalled disagreements over Greenland. Bloomberg had reported that Trump would discuss leaving NATO when he met the alliance chief.

Rutte described a frank discussion and said Trump is 'clearly disappointed' with some allies. He said NATO allies are doing almost everything the US asks and rejected the criticism, and that NATO is moving away from an 'unhealthy dependence on the US'. Rutte also said there are no agreements on Ukraine's NATO membership in the near future.