Trump says US has ‘never gotten anything’ from helping NATO; claims ‘not sure’ if alliance will stand by America

Donald Trump on Wednesday reaffirmed that the United States would remain committed to NATO but questioned whether the alliance would stand by Washington in return, delivering a blunt message to allies during his address at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos.

“We will be with NATO 100%, but I’m not sure they will be there for us,” Trump said, framing the transatlantic alliance as one in which the United States gives far more than it receives.

Trump said Washington had gained little from its decades-long support for NATO, arguing that American taxpayers had effectively subsidised European security. “We have never gotten anything from helping NATO. We were paying their bills, for what?” he asked.

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Casting US security guarantees as conditional, Trump told allies they faced a clear choice. “You can say yes and we will be very appreciative. You can say no and we will remember,” he said, without specifying what actions he expected from NATO members.

Despite the sharp language, Trump insisted that his approach did not amount to a threat to the alliance. “This would not be a threat to NATO. It would enhance the alliance’s security,” he said, arguing that greater burden-sharing would make NATO stronger rather than weaker.

Trump repeated his long-standing criticism that the United States contributes disproportionately to NATO while receiving little in return. “We give so much to NATO and get so little,” he said, adding, “The US has gotten nothing from NATO.”

The remarks come at a time of heightened unease among European allies, who have expressed concern about the future of US security guarantees under Trump’s second term, particularly as Washington presses NATO members to increase defence spending and take on greater responsibility for their own security.

Also read: Trump says Europe ‘not heading in the right direction’ as he addresses Davos summit amid standoff over GreenlandTrump did not outline any immediate changes to US commitments or troop deployments, but his comments reinforced his transactional view of alliances and his insistence that partners meet what he considers fair financial and strategic obligations.

The NATO comments followed Trump’s broader criticism of Europe during the Davos address, in which he argued that the continent was “not heading in the right direction” economically and politically, further underscoring growing strains in transatlantic relations.