President Trump just referred to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as “a paper tiger” and “cowards.” Per The Hill, this strong condemnation came as Europe continues its collective stance of not fully supporting efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, even as the U.S. and Israel continue their strikes against Iran.
“Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!” Trump declared in a post on Truth Social. He didn’t stop there, continuing to express his frustration with the situation. “They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran. Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them,” Trump wrote. While the president has indicated the conflict is won and Iran’s military significantly weakened, he hasn’t yet issued an outright declaration of victory.
Trump also tied the issue directly to the economy. “[They] complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices,” Trump explained. He emphasized the perceived ease and low risk of such an operation, adding, “So easy for them to do, with so little risk. COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!”
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These sharp comments from the president arrived just one day after Japan, and NATO countries- the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands- shifted from their initial cautious stance. In fact, Germany had been pretty emphatic in their initial, sarcastic response.
“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait,” leaders from these nations stated in a joint letter. They also added, “We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning.”
It’s a bit of a tricky situation because the letter didn’t actually detail how these countries plan to contribute to securing Hormuz. This strait is incredibly important, typically facilitating the passage of about 20 percent of the world’s daily oil supply. The nations involved in the joint statement all conveyed “deep concern” about the impact of the Iranian strikes on the global energy supply, which is a sensible position to take.
Trump has been consistently pushing NATO and European allies to secure the Strait of Hormuz. He has actively pressured several countries to join in the military action, something they have largely managed to avoid so far. It seems like this latest outburst is a culmination of that ongoing pressure.
Despite the president’s strong words, NATO’s Secretary-General Mark Rutte was optimistic. “I’m confident that allies as always will do everything in support of our shared interest as we always do — so we will find a way forward,” Rutte said. This confidence from the Secretary-General stands in stark contrast to President Trump’s “paper tiger” assessment.
Published: Mar 21, 2026 11:52 am