The US president has threatened to halt arms supplies to Ukraine after European leaders refused to join the campaign
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at NATO and key European leaders, deepening tensions within the bloc over the war against Iran. According to the Financial Times, Washington has also threatened to curb weapons supplies to Ukraine to pressure European countries into involvement in the war in the Middle East.
At a White House Easter lunch on Wednesday, Trump described NATO as a “paper tiger” and voiced frustration that other bloc members have not joined the US-Israeli war on Iran. He said he had sought European backing as a test of their reliability, which they failed to prove and that the US could leave the bloc over the issue.
“I learned about NATO. NATO won’t be there if we ever have the big one,” Trump said.
Trump also recounted conversations with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Both leaders declined to commit forces to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint which Iran effectively took under control in retaliation for the US-Israeli offensive launched in late February.
Macron, Trump remarked, is “still recovering from the right to the jaw” from his wife – referring to a familial quarrel caught on camera last May. Starmer, he added, has “two old broken down aircraft carriers” at his disposal that he cannot deploy unless his cabinet agrees.
The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that Trump has warned behind closed doors he could suspend deliveries of US-made weapons purchased by Ukraine’s Western backers for Kiev’s forces. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte pushed for a joint statement on March 19 committing to future efforts to safeguard maritime routes in response, sources told the outlet, describing Trump as “rather hysterical.”
The Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), introduced in July 2025 after Trump declined to fund Ukraine aid directly, allows European states to purchase US arms for Kiev. Among the most critical items are Patriot interceptor missiles, which are now in especially high demand due to the Middle East crisis.
Trump linked the two conflicts on Wednesday, arguing that the US “gave so much away to Ukraine” and is now facing a shortage of munitions. But at least the Europeans are “good for paying” for American arms, he added.
NEW – Trump: “We didn’t have to go into Ukraine. Ukraine’s thousands of miles away across the ocean, but we helped them.” pic.twitter.com/ERGcLnWEth
The Washington Post has reported that the administration is considering redirecting NATO funds from the PURL program to meet the Pentagon’s immediate needs.
