Donald Trump escalated tensions with key European allies Thursday, suggesting he could withdraw U.S. military forces from bases in Italy and Spain unless they commit naval support to his confrontation with Iran.
The threat marks the latest salvo in a broader rebuke of NATO members Trump views as insufficient partners. Asked at an Oval Office event whether he would consider removing troops from Spain and Italy, Trump responded affirmatively, saying "Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible."
The president's criticism extends to Germany, where he has already signaled plans to curtail U.S. troop deployments. That threat came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly stated that America was being "humiliated" by Iran, a characterization Trump found unacceptable.
At the core of Trump's frustration is what he sees as European reluctance to assist in opening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital commercial shipping corridor. Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO allies for failing to deploy naval assets to support operations in the region.
Capitol Hill is watching the confrontation closely. A senior Senate Democrat on Thursday challenged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a hearing, accusing him of providing Trump with inaccurate assessments of the Iran operation while making "dangerously exaggerated" claims about the scale of any military victories.
The dispute underscores the broader friction between the Trump administration and European governments over how to respond to Iran. While Trump views military pressure as necessary, allies fear escalation could destabilize an already volatile region and question the strategic benefits of deeper involvement.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's willingness to weaponize troop deployments as leverage reveals how transactional his view of alliance commitments has become."
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