Trump: NATO a 'paper tiger' without U.S.

President Donald Trump on Friday called NATO members "cowards" and highlighted the weakness of the alliance without U.S. participation.

"Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER! They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran," he posted on Truth Social. "Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, 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. So easy for them to do, with so little risk. COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!"

Trump has escalated his criticisms of the alliance and its members since the beginning of the Iran war. Thus far, few European allies have heeded calls to support the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

A group of six U.S. allies on Thursday announced their "readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait" but did not commit to sending warships.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.