Trump mocks Macron, slams NATO allies over Iran war

Washington: US President Donald Trump ridiculed French President Emmanuel Macron and criticized NATO allies during a private lunch, accusing them of failing to support Washington in the ongoing conflict with Iran.

In remarks captured in a video briefly posted on the White House YouTube channel, Trump said the United States did not need allied support but had still reached out.

He mocked Macron personally, referring to a widely circulated 2025 video involving French First Lady Brigitte Macron, which the French president had earlier dismissed as disinformation.

Trump claimed he had asked France to provide military assistance in the Gulf, saying he urged Macron to send ships “immediately.” He then imitated a French accent while recounting what he described as Macron’s refusal, suggesting France was unwilling to act until after the war.

Sharp Criticism of NATO

The US president used the remarks to question the reliability of the NATO alliance, warning that it may not stand with the United States in a major conflict.

“NATO won’t be there if we ever have the big one,” Trump said, without elaborating, while also describing the alliance as a “paper tiger.”

His comments mark the latest in a series of criticisms directed at NATO since his return to the White House last year.

US Signals Policy Review

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that Washington may reassess its relationship with NATO after the conclusion of the Iran conflict, signaling potential shifts in US foreign policy toward the transatlantic alliance.