NATO Chief Visits Washington as Trump Threatens Alliance Withdrawal

Apr 8, 2026

President Donald Trump renewed threats to withdraw the United States from NATO after calling alliance members 'cowards' and a 'paper tiger' for refusing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte meets with Trump on April 8, 2026, to smooth tensions after allies Spain and France restricted US military access during the conflict. Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway carrying one-fifth of the world's oil, sending gas prices soaring before a two-week ceasefire was agreed. A 2023 Congressional law championed by Marco Rubio prevents any president from unilaterally leaving NATO without Congressional approval.

Trump's threats to withdraw from NATO over Iran conflict

▪President Donald Trump suggested the United States may consider leaving NATO after member countries ignored Trump's call to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
▪President Donald Trump complained during the Iran war that NATO has shown it will not be there for the United States.
▪President Donald Trump was angered as NATO allies Spain and France forbade or restricted use of their airspace or joint military facilities for the United States in the Iran war.

Rutte's diplomatic visit and ceasefire developments

▪The plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is expected to be a central focus of the Wednesday afternoon meeting between President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
▪NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is expected to meet with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
▪NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte's meeting with President Donald Trump is intended to smooth over Trump's anger with NATO over the Iran war.

Congressional constraints and allied responses to U.S. demands

▪NATO was activated only once in its history, in 2001, to support the United States in the wake of the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.
▪Senator Mitch McConnell stated that NATO allies sent their young servicemembers to fight and die alongside America's own in Afghanistan and Iraq following the September 11th attacks.
▪The 2023 law preventing a president from pulling out of NATO was championed by Marco Rubio when Rubio was a senator from Florida.
▪Congress in 2023 passed a law that prevents any United States president from pulling out of NATO without Congressional approval.