Donald Trump calls out Australia in explosive NATO rant amid escalating Iran war tensions
Australia has been named in a sweeping Donald Trump attack on allies as tensions rise over a US push to escalate military action against Iran.
US President Donald Trump has called out Australia in a sweeping attack on allies, declaring the United States does not need support from partner nations as tensions escalate in the Middle East.
In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Mr Trump criticised NATO countries and key allies, including Australia, Japan and South Korea, after many refused to commit to a proposed US-led military operation targeting Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
“The United States has been informed by most of our NATO ‘Allies’ that they don’t want to get involved with our Military Operation against the Terrorist Regime of Iran,” Mr Trump wrote.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I always considered NATO … to be a one-way street — We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us.”
He went further, naming long-standing allies directly.
“Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea… WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!”
The comments come as allies, already strained by tariffs and repeated threats from the White House, baulk at being drawn deeper into a widening conflict with Iran, particularly after complaints they were not consulted on initial US actions.
Despite the resistance, Mr Trump claimed overwhelming military success.
“Fortunately, we have decimated Iran’s Military — Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti-Aircraft and Radar is gone… their Leaders… are gone, never to threaten us… again!”
In further remarks from the White House, the President doubled down, suggesting allies had been “foolish” to question his request for support.
The escalating rhetoric comes amid growing turmoil inside the administration, with the first resignation reported in the wake of the Iran conflict.
The head of the United States’ National Counterterrorism Centre, Joseph Kent, has resigned over the US-Israel war in Iran, saying in a letter to President Donald Trump that he “cannot in good conscience” back the action.
Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” Mr Kent said in a post on X.
Before entering Mr Trump’s administration, Mr Kent ran two unsuccessful campaigns for Congress in Washington state.
He also served in the military, seeing 11 deployments as a Green Beret, followed by work at the CIA.
Mr Kent has long been known for his “America First” beliefs and has said he opposes US military interventions abroad.
Still, the announcement came as a surprise, one US official said.
With Reuters
