US President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned the U.K. and France that the U.S. “won’t be there to help you anymore,” as he vented his frustration over the close allies’ refusal to join military action against Iran.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump said, “the Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory.”
“France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran,’ who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!,” he said in one post.
In another post, the president singled out the U.K. for criticism while urging other countries to take action in the Strait of Hormuz, the vital oil route that Iran has effectively blocked during the war.
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you,” Trump wrote.
“Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.”
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!,” he wrote.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth piled on at a press briefing later Tuesday morning.
“There are countries around the world who ought be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well,” he said. “It’s not just the United States Navy. Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well.”
When asked if reopening the strait is a core objective for the U.S. to end the war, Hegseth said defeating Iran’s navy remains a key goal, but clearing the waterway is not just the U.S.′ “problem set.”
“I think other countries should pay attention” to Trump’s words, Hegseth said, referring to the Truth Social posts. “He’s pointing out, you know, might want to start learning how to fight for yourself.”
Hegseth also downplayed Trump’s repeated insistence that the U.S. is ahead of schedule in achieving its objectives in Iran within a four-to-six-week time frame.
Trump “said four to six weeks, six to eight weeks, three — It could be any, any particular number, but we would never reveal precisely what it is, because our goal is to finish those objectives, and we’re well on our way,” the secretary said.
The Trump administration initially predicted the war would last “days.”
Trump has previously shared his disdain for European allies that have refused to take part in the U.S. and Israel’s military operation against Iran, particularly after they expressed their misgivings at getting involved in what would be highly dangerous efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for international shipping.
The maritime passage has been almost completely shut by Iran since the war began in late February, effectively halting the shipping of Gulf oil and gas through the strait. A number of tankers attempting to navigate the strait have been attacked.
Trump lambasted NATO over its reluctance to help the U.S. against Iran, telling reporters last week that the military alliance was “making a very foolish mistake.”
“I’ve long said that, you know, I wonder whether or not NATO would ever be there for us. So … this was a great test, because we don’t need them, but they should have been there,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Having to go it alone with Israel for now, Trump has vacillated between conciliatory and escalatory positions on the war, teasing a potential peace deal with Tehran while threatening the Islamic Republic with more intense attacks.
