new video loaded: Trump Says U.S. Doesn’t Need Help From U.S. Allies in Iran
transcript
Back
transcript
Trump Says U.S. Doesn’t Need Help From U.S. Allies in Iran
Amid mounting criticism from other countries and his own administration, President Trump told reporters that the U.S. didn’t need help opening the Strait of Hormuz.
“I think NATO’s making a very foolish mistake. And I’ve long said that I wonder whether or not NATO would ever be there for us. So this was a great test because we don’t need them, but they should have been there. When somebody is working with us that says they didn’t think Iran was a threat, we don’t want those people because — and there are some people, I guess, that would say that. But they’re not smart people or they’re not savvy people.” President Iran because the Iranian regime has told Sky Reporter: “If you put boots on the ground in Iran it will be another Vietnam. Are you afraid of that?” “No, I’m not afraid of — I’m really not afraid of anything.”
Amid mounting criticism from other countries and his own administration, President Trump told reporters that the U.S. didn’t need help opening the Strait of Hormuz.
By Meg Felling
March 17, 2026
Trump Dismisses NATO Role in Strait of Hormuz Standoff
In a striking assertion of unilateral American power, President Donald Trump declared in March 2026 that the United States does not require assistance from NATO allies to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The comments, made in the Oval Office and captured in a new video transcript, intensify a ongoing debate about transatlantic burden-sharing and the U.S. approach to Iran.
“I think NATO’s making a very foolish mistake,” Trump stated, referencing recent discussions where European allies proposed a naval mission to complement U.S. efforts in the strategic waterway. “We don’t need them, but they should have been there.” The president framed the situation as a “test” of alliance reliability, adding, “I’ve long said that I wonder whether or not NATO would ever be there for us.”
Context: A Chokepoint Under Pressure
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint, through which approximately 20% of the world’s seaborne oil passes, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Tensions in the region have been elevated since 2025, following a series of naval incidents and heightened rhetoric between Iran and Israel, with the U.S. maintaining a significant naval presence to deter any attempts to block the strait.
Earlier in March 2026, several NATO members, including the United Kingdom and Germany, indicated a willingness to contribute ships to an international mission aimed at de-escalating the situation. This proposal came amid private concerns from some U.S. officials about the operational strain on the U.S. Fifth Fleet. However, the White House had not formally requested such assistance, creating a diplomatic dissonance that allies found confusing.
Dismissing Threat Perceptions and Historical Parallels
During the exchange, Trump also addressed a question about Iranian warnings that a U.S. ground invasion would lead to “another Vietnam.” The president flatly rejected the analogy. “No, I’m not afraid of — I’m really not afraid of anything,” he said.
His
