President Donald Trump stated he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO, citing the alliance's failure to back American military operations against Iran.

In an interview with The Telegraph published early Wednesday, Trump described NATO as a "paper tiger" and said removing the U.S. from the defense pact is now "beyond reconsideration." The comments came amid escalating tensions over the ongoing U.S.-led war in Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury, which entered its sixth week.

Trump's frustration stems from NATO allies' refusal to deploy naval assets to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments that Iran has disrupted with attacks on tankers. European nations, including France, the United Kingdom, and Spain, declined to provide material support, prompting Trump to lash out publicly. "We spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year on NATO, protecting them, and we would have always been there for them, but now, based on their actions, I guess we don't have to be, do we?" Trump said on March 27 at an investment forum in Miami.

The president reiterated that the U.S. "does not have to be there for NATO," raising questions about America's commitment to the alliance's Article 5 mutual defense clause. On his Truth Social platform last week, Trump posted in all caps: "NATO NATIONS HAVE DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP WITH THE LUNATIC NATION, NOW MILITARILY DECIMATED, OF IRAN."

This is not the first time Trump has criticized NATO. During his first term and 2024 campaign, he pressured allies to meet the 2% GDP defense spending target, a goal more countries have now achieved under his influence. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has credited Trump for strengthening the alliance through such demands, stating last week that NATO is "safer under Trump."

However, Trump's latest remarks mark an escalation, with withdrawal now explicitly under consideration. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed concerns, suggesting Washington should "reconsider its participation in NATO" due to frustrations with allies.

Withdrawing from NATO requires one year's notice under the treaty's Article 13, but congressional involvement remains a hurdle. A 2023 law restricts the president's ability to exit without legislative approval, as noted in recent analyses. House Republicans have previously warned against unilateral moves that could spark internal party divisions.

The White House withdrew from other international organizations earlier this year, but NATO's status remains undecided. As the Iran conflict continues, with Trump signaling a potential U.S. drawdown in weeks, the transatlantic alliance faces its most serious test in decades.