Trump to Discuss Potential US Withdrawal from NATO Amid Iran Conflict Tensions

President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the potential withdrawal of the United States from the alliance. The talks come amid heightened tensions from the US-Iran war, where administration officials have criticized NATO members for not providing adequate support to the US and Israel.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the agenda during a press briefing, stating that Trump remains open to leaving NATO.

Leavitt addressed questions about the alliance's role in regional security, accusing NATO of turning its back on the US during the conflict. She read from a prior Trump statement describing NATO as tested and failed. The US has revived long-standing complaints about burden-sharing, with Trump arguing earlier this month that member nations do not contribute enough to their own defense.

Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire following Trump's threats of strikes on Iranian infrastructure.

Both sides claimed victory after the agreement, which US military orders directed to cease all offensive operations in Iran. Oil prices tumbled after Trump's announcement of the pause, and gas prices averaged 88 cents higher than in 2025.

“— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, Wednesday (Newsweek)”

Iran reported the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to Israeli strikes on Lebanon, but Leavitt described these reports as false. Israel stated that the ceasefire agreement does not apply to Lebanon. The conflict has threatened global food supply chains, according to reports.

NATO was established in 1949 with 12 founding members, including the US, to counter Soviet threats through collective defense under Article 5. The alliance has expanded to 32 members and adapted beyond the Cold War era. Any US withdrawal would require congressional approval, as mandated by a 2023 law, and no such vote has been initiated.