NATO Secretary General Drops Hints on Conversation With Trump About Organization, Iran – RedState
President Donald Trump met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday.
This was significant in the wake of the president’s displeasure over the failure of some NATO allies to respond to things like U.S. overflight requests to deal with Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury. He and Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed displeasure with the response and talked about reconsidering U.S. membership in NATO.
READ MORE: Watch: Rubio delivers direct message to NATO allies: They must listen
Allies rally on Hormuz – Rutte’s Trump praise explodes talking points
Before the meeting, White House press secretary Katherine Leavitt said she was exactly quoting Trump on the subject before her meeting.
Leavitt: I have a direct quote from the president about NATO: They have been tested and failed.
It is quite sad that NATO has turned its back on the American people over the last six weeks, when it is the American people who finance their defense. pic.twitter.com/PGbJKejrXR
– Acyn (@Acyn) April 8, 2026
“I have a direct quote from the president,” Leavitt said. “They were tested and they failed.”
Leavitt blasted them. “It is quite sad that NATO has turned its back on the American people over the last six weeks, when it is the American people who finance their defense.”
It is perhaps worth noting that there was no mutual photo op with Trump and Rutte to answer questions from the press.
Rutte went on CNN and, despite being there, made it clear that he agreed with the reasons for Operation Epic Fury against Iran and said he supported the president. Rutte explained that “thanks to President Trump’s leadership,” the world was safer because he acted to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons before it was too late.
🚨 JUST IN: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte goes FULL PRO-TRUMP mode
Q: Is the world safer than before the war in Iran started?
RUTTE: “ABSOLUTELY! It’s because of President Trump’s leadership…it’s very important for our security.” pic.twitter.com/saDoiClp79
– Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 8, 2026
🚨 BREAKING: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte AMAZES THE WORLD and expresses SUPPORT for President Trump who criticizes our allies for abandoning the United States during Operation Epic Fury.
This comes after Rutte met 47 people at the White House
RUTTE: “Some of them [failed]!” 🔥
“[Iran] would lead to a North… pic.twitter.com/7pjlbm8nJQ
– Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 8, 2026
Rutte agreed with Trump, saying that yes, some NATO countries had not responded to his requests regarding Iran’s action. But Rutte said a large majority “had done what they promised before”. He said it was one of the things he and Trump talked about during their meeting. He argued that NATO protected both the United States and Europe and was a platform for projecting American power around the world.
Tapper tried to get Rutte to say something negative about Trump, by asking him about Trump’s comment about the end of “civilization” in Iran. But Rutte disagreed.
🚨 JUST NOW: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte REFUSES to take the bait on CNN over President Trump’s ‘end of civilization’ message
“I don’t comment on everything…I SUPPORT the president when it comes to removing Iran’s ability to export CHAOS.” 🔥💯pic.twitter.com/H5WeTfG0gf
– Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 8, 2026
Rutte said he supported Trump when it came to removing Iran’s ability to export chaos, and much of Europe did as well.
He understands Trump, and they get along well, but he needs to bring the rest of his NATO crew into line, because they created this problem through their inaction.
But the last comment of the day on the issue came from President Trump.
“NATO wasn’t there when we needed them, and they won’t be there if we need them again. Remember Greenland, that big mismanaged piece of ice!!!” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/xgEV8P1n4n
– The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 8, 2026
“NATO wasn’t there when we needed them, and they won’t be there if we need them again. Remember Greenland, that big mismanaged piece of ice!!!” – President Donald J. Trump
It does not appear that Trump’s views on NATO were changed by this meeting.
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