Washington: Donald Trump has reversed his position and claimed he never needed or wanted other countries’ help in Iran, and blasted America’s NATO and Indo-Pacific allies – including Australia – after previously demanding their help.
The US president’s latest comments came as his top counterterrorism official resigned, saying he could no longer “in good conscience” support the ongoing war in Iran, and accusing Israeli officials and lobbyists of fueling pro-war sentiment in the administration.
Asked about the resignation, Trump said he always thought the person he appointed to run the National Counterterrorism Center was “very weak on security” and “it’s a good thing he’s out”.
Trump has been asking US allies – particularly NATO members – to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to help open up the vital shipping lane, as oil tankers come to a standstill amid the ongoing US-Israeli campaign against Iran.
But he said on Tuesday (US time) that many NATO allies had informed him that they would not participate. Not surprising, he said, as he had long considered NATO to be a one-way street. “We will protect them, but they will not help us at all, especially, in times of trouble.”
Trump went on to say that the US military has destroyed Iran’s navy, air force, defense and government leadership.
“Due to the fact that we have achieved such a Military Success, we no longer ‘need’, or desire, the help of NATO Countries – we NEVER did! Neither did Japan, Australia, or South Korea,” Trump wrote on the social network.
“Actually, speaking as the President of the United States, the Most Powerful Country in the World, WE DON’T NEED ANYBODY’S HELP!”
The Australian government has ruled out sending ships to the strait, Transport Minister Catherine King said no such request had been made to Canberra.
Trump also had not mentioned Australia during his previous public pleas for help. Instead, he cited China, Japan and South Korea as countries that depend on oil from the Straits and should help.
The White House was contacted for clarification on whether Trump had ever sought Australia’s involvement.
Later, in a bilateral meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin at the White House, the US president continued to criticize the “stupid mistake” that NATO was making.
“This was a big test. We don’t need them, but they should have been there,” he said. “We as the United States have to remember that because we think it’s amazing.”
After Trump again expressed his disappointment with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not helping at the beginning of the war, Martin defended the British Prime Minister, calling him a hard-working and intelligent person with whom Trump could repair his relationship.
The Irish leader also defended allied countries’ military support for Ukraine after Trump complained that the United States was helping NATO with Ukraine, but NATO was not helping him with Iran.
Trump’s remarks came as French President Emmanuel Macron announced the decision to send a ship to the Strait, after Trump said the day before that France could help.
“We are not part of the conflict and therefore France will never participate in operations to open or liberate the Strait of Hormuz in the current environment,” Macron said at the start of a cabinet meeting to discuss the situation.
The war, now in its third week, has wreaked havoc on Iran’s missile stockpile, arms industry, navy and air force – and government officials.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said overnight that Israeli airstrikes had killed two more Iranian officials. including Ali Larijanisecretary of the National Security Council.
But the campaign has detractors within Trump’s so-called America First movement. On Tuesday, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Trump appointee Joe Kent, resigned saying he could not “in good conscience” support the war.
“Iran did not pose any threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its strong influence of the United States,” he said.
In his resignation letter, Kent accused “high-ranking Israeli officials and prominent members of the American media” of running what he called a “disinformation campaign” to sow pro-war sentiment and undermine the America First movement.
Trump appointed Kent to head the National Counterterrorism Center in February 2025. Asked about his resignation Tuesday, Trump played down his assessment that Iran was not a threat to the United States.
“I always thought he was a good guy, but I always thought he was weak on security — very weak on security,” Trump said of his nominee. “I didn’t know him well … it’s a good thing he’s out.”
With Reuters
Michael Koziol is the North American correspondent for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, deputy editor of the Sun-Herald and federal political reporter in Canberra.Connect through X or email address.
