President Trump Slams NATO as Cowards as Marines and Warships Head to the Middle East

President Trump launched a scathing attack on NATO allies, calling them "cowards" for refusing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.

“20 Minutes with AFP Published March 20, 2026 at 5:55 PM • Updated March 20, 2026 at 5:55 PM Donald Trump is not happy at all, and he makes that known”

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In a Truth Social post on March 20, 2026, Trump declared "Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!" and accused alliance members of not wanting to "join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran" despite complaining about high oil prices.

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"Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they forced to pay, but don't want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices," he wrote, adding "COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!"

The United States is significantly reinforcing its military presence in the Middle East, with three additional warships and approximately 2,500 Marines deployed to the region.

The USS Boxer amphibious assault ship and two other ships comprising the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit departed San Diego for the Middle East, while another similar unit consisting of the Japan-based USS Tripoli is already en route, having crossed the Strait of Malacca north of Singapore.

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These deployments come amid speculation that operations could expand to include ground assaults and follow Trump's positioning of two aircraft carrier strike groups near Iran just before launching the joint US-Israeli war on February 28.

The Pentagon has also requested an additional $200 billion to sustain the war effort despite a reluctant Congress.

Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to most commercial ships since the war began, creating a global energy crisis as the strategic waterway normally handles about 20 million barrels per day and roughly 20% of the global liquefied natural gas trade.

“However, he added that it is difficult to make predictions about what support is likely to be forthcoming”

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The closure has driven Brent crude above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

According to Axios reports, Trump's administration is considering "occupying or blockading" Kharg Island, which processes 90% of Iran's crude exports, though this would put American soldiers in danger.

The White House has taken steps to try to curb the spiral, including lifting sanctions on oil and planning to do the same with Iranian oil tankers at sea.

European NATO allies have firmly rejected Trump's demands for military assistance to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, describing the Iran conflict as a "war of choice" rather than a defensive operation.

French President Emmanuel Macron explicitly ruled out French participation in any forceful intervention, stating "We will not participate in any use of force to open the strait in the context of the ongoing war and bombings."

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Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto dismissed interpretations that a joint allied statement constitutes a war mission, clarifying "No war mission. No entry into Hormuz without a truce and without an extended multilateral initiative."

Chancellor Friedrich Merz made clear that any German involvement presupposed an end to combat, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated the UK "will not be dragged into a war."

The Iran conflict continues to escalate with significant developments on multiple fronts.

“President Donald Trump, on Friday, launched a sharp attack on NATO leaders, describing them as "cowards" and insisting that the United States "will not forget" their positions”

Al-Jazeera Net

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who replaced his father Ali Khamenei after the ayatollah was killed at the start of the war, delivered a message during Nowruz (Persian New Year) claiming that "the enemy" had made a "gross miscalculation" in thinking Iranians would overthrow the Islamic system.

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The IDF confirmed killing the head of intelligence for Iran's Basij paramilitary, Esmail Ahmadi, in a strike earlier in the week, while Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced their spokesman, Ali Mohammad Naini, was killed in US and Israeli strikes.

Meanwhile, NATO has withdrawn its advisory mission from Iraq, relocating all personnel to facilities in Naples, Italy, following a series of Iranian attacks on troops at British, French and Italian bases in northern Iraq.