The fragile ceasefire in the Middle East has done little to nothing to calm tensions between America and its European allies, as President Trump launched another scathing attack on NATO, dismissing the alliance as ineffective and irrelevant during a moment of crisis.

Whilespeakingat a political event in Phoenix and later on social media, Trump made clear that he had rejected a recent offer of assistance from NATO regarding security in the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway, which handles roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments, had been disrupted for weeks during the ongoing war in Iran.

“Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is almost over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would like some help,” Trump said. “I told them I would have liked your help two months ago, but now I don’t want your help anymore.”

“They were absolutely useless. They need us so badly” — Trump goads his Turning Point audience into booing NATOpic.twitter.com/oCiL4rS6yd

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar)April 17, 2026

The remarks reflect a deepening rift between the United States and the NATO alliance, which Trump has repeatedly criticized for failing to support America during its recent military confrontation with Iran. Going even further, the president described the bloc as “absolutely useless when we needed them.”

At the heart of the dispute lies the closure—and subsequent reopening—of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that the passage had been reopened to commercial vessels following a temporary ceasefire arrangement.

Trump quickly confirmed the development, claiming that Tehran had effectively committed to keeping the strait open. At the same time, he emphasized that American naval measures targeting Iranian shipping would remain in place until a broader agreement is finalized.

The confrontation over Hormuz highlighted what many have long viewed as a structural imbalance within NATO. While the United States carried out the bulk of military operations and enforcement measures, European allies largely have remained on the sidelines.

Administration officials have described this lack of support as a turning point, going so far as to suggest that NATO “turned their backs” on the United States during a critical moment of need. Trump echoed that sentiment, arguing that America must increasingly rely on its own capabilities.“We have to rely on ourselves,” he said, adding that America cannot “rely on outside countries and sources.”

Source: The Gateway Pundit