President Donald Trump met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday in Washington. During the meeting, Trump expressed frustration and disappointment over the lack of support he received from alliance members and European leaders regarding the US military campaign against Iran, claiming Washington had demolished Iran without needing assistance.
Secretary General Rutte sought to ease the US leader's anger using praise and splashy visuals. In defense of the allies, Rutte stressed their support for the war on Iran by pointing to the use of US bases in Europe, noting that 4,000 to 5,000 US aircraft operated from those bases during the conflict.
Trump appeared mostly unmoved by the interaction, though he gave no indication that he is preparing to downgrade relations with the alliance.