President Trump held a press conference at the NATO summit in The Hague on June 25, where he discussed recent U.S. military actions against Iran. He claimed that U.S. strikes had significantly damaged Iran’s nuclear program, despite a preliminary intelligence report suggesting the impact was more limited. Trump described the strikes as "very, very successful," emphasizing their effectiveness by comparing them to the nuclear bombings that ended World War II.
During the conference, Trump asserted that the U.S. military’s actions had "obliterated" Iran’s nuclear capabilities and expressed frustration with media reports that downplayed the success of the strikes. He specifically criticized outlets like CNN and The New York Times, calling their coverage misleading. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed this sentiment, labeling the media’s portrayal as "spin" aimed at undermining the president.
This press conference took place against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which Trump had announced just before arriving at the summit. He noted that the ceasefire was a significant development and likened the impact of the strikes to those historic bombings in Japan. While Trump acknowledged the initial intelligence assessment, he insisted that it only reflected an early view of the damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear sites, including the heavily fortified Fordo facility.
In addition to discussing military actions, Trump addressed NATO’s defense spending commitments. Allies agreed to increase their defense budgets to 5% of GDP by 2035, a rise from the previous target of 2%. Trump has long urged NATO members to boost their spending, arguing that the U.S. shoulders an unfair share of the financial burden. He clarified that this new goal would not apply to U.S. spending, emphasizing that the U.S. is not in Europe.
Trump also touched on his evolving perspective on NATO during the summit. He remarked that his time there had changed his thinking, expressing appreciation for the commitment of NATO allies to their countries. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before the press conference, but they did not discuss the ongoing conflict with Russia.
As the summit concluded, Trump remained focused on his administration’s military strategy and international relations, highlighting the importance of U.S. leadership on the global stage.