Trump says Nato defence spend rising to 5% of GDP is ‘big win’ for US and the West
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Trump says Nato defence spend rising to 5% of GDP is ‘big win’ for US and the West
Trump threatens to make Spain ‘pay twice as much’ as part of any future trade deal. The country has not agreed to increase its defence spending to 5% of national output by 2035 – which is the new target set by the alliance.
Anthony Reuben
BBC News
In his press conference at the Nato summit, President Trump threatened to make Spain “pay twice as much” as part of any future trade deal because the country has not agreed to increase its defence spending to 5% of national output by 2035 – which is the new target set by the alliance.
“Spain is the only country out of all of the countries that refuses to pay… but they’ll have to pay it back to us on trade,” he said.
Earlier, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said at his own news conference that Spain would achieve the military capabilities that Nato had asked it for, but was still talking about spending 2% of GDP on defence, which his government has agreed to do this year.
Spain was the lowest spender on defence in Nato last year, missing the 2024 target of 2%. It paid 1.2%.
You can read more about it here.
Trump says Nato defence spend rising to 5% of GDP is ‘big win’ for US and the West
Trump threatens to make Spain ‘pay twice as much’ as part of any future trade deal. The country has not agreed to increase its defence spending to 5% of national output by 2035 – which is the new target set by the alliance.
Anthony Reuben
BBC News
In his press conference at the Nato summit, President Trump threatened to make Spain “pay twice as much” as part of any future trade deal because the country has not agreed to increase its defence spending to 5% of national output by 2035 – which is the new target set by the alliance.
“Spain is the only country out of all of the countries that refuses to pay… but they’ll have to pay it back to us on trade,” he said.
Earlier, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said at his own news conference that Spain would achieve the military capabilities that Nato had asked it for, but was still talking about spending 2% of GDP on defence, which his government has agreed to do this year.
Spain was the lowest spender on defence in Nato last year, missing the 2024 target of 2%. It paid 1.2%.
You can read more about it here.
Donald Trump hails ‘monumental victory’ as NATO commits to 5% defense spending: ‘Almost everyone thanked US’
NATO leaders agree to invest 5% of GDP annually on core and broader security needs by 2035. US President Donald Trump hailed the alliance’s new defense goal, calling it a historic milestone. Trump said the spending hike — with the exception of Spain — will ultimately add more than $1 trillion per year to NATO’s collective defense capabilities. Trump took sharper aim at Spain, the only NATO country not to sign on to the alliance’s new commitment to raise defense spending to 5 per cent of GDP. While praising most allies for their support, he accused Spain of seeking a “free ride” and said he would negotiate directly with Spain to raise its spending to 2 per cent, not 5%. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stood firm, stating that Spain will increase its defense spending only to 2% of the GDP — not 5% as Trump had demanded. “An attack on one is an attack on all,” he said, adding: “Ironclad commitment”
Speaking at a closing news conference at the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump praised the alliance’s new defense goal, calling it a historic milestone.
“This week, the NATO allies committed to dramatically increase the defense spending to that 5% of GDP — something that no one really thought possible,” he said.
He announced that the agreement will be officially named “The Hague Defense Commitment”, and touted it as a global achievement.
“It’s a monumental win for the United States because we were carrying much more than our fair share,” Trump said. “But this is a big win for Europe and for actually Western civilization.”
Over $1 Trillion boost for collective defense Trump said the spending hike — with the exception of Spain — will ultimately add more than $1 trillion per year to NATO’s collective defense capabilities.
“Europe stepping up to take more responsibility for security will help prevent future disasters like the horrible situation with Russia and Ukraine,” he added.
The new spending goal comprises 3.5% of GDP for traditional defense, such as troops and weaponry, and 1.5% for broader security needs, including cybersecurity and infrastructure protection.
From skeptic to supporter Trump admitted he came to the summit initially viewing it as a routine obligation, but said he left with renewed confidence in the alliance.
“I came here because it was something I was supposed to be doing,” he said. “But I left here a little bit different.”
He described NATO leaders as a “nice group of people,” and claimed that “almost every one of them said ‘thank God for the United States.’”
Praise for allies — and a warning Trump praised most NATO countries for backing the spending increase but singled out Spain as the lone holdout. While Spain claims it can meet its defense commitments with lower spending, Trump suggested the rest of the alliance is united in its resolve.
“They need the United States, and without the United States it’s not going to be the same,” he warned.
NATO’s statement: “Ironclad commitment” The 32-member alliance formally endorsed the pledge in its final summit declaration:
“Allies commit to invest 5% of GDP annually on core defence requirements as well as defence- and security-related spending by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective obligations.”
The declaration also reaffirmed the alliance’s foundational Article 5 commitment: “An attack on one is an attack on all.”
Trump slams Spain’s NATO spending, threatens trade action Trump took sharper aim at Spain, the only NATO country not to sign on to the alliance’s new commitment to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. While praising most allies for their support, he accused Spain of seeking a “free ride.”
“They want a little bit of a free ride, but they’ll have to pay it back to us on trade,” Trump said.
He then floated the idea of imposing higher tariffs on Spain, despite its position within the European Union, which negotiates trade policy collectively for all 27 member states.
When reminded of this, Trump doubled down: “I’m going to negotiate directly with Spain. I’m going to do it myself,” he insisted.
Spain: 2% is “sufficient and realistic” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stood firm, stating that Spain will increase its defense spending only to 2% of GDP — not 5%. He emphasised that Spain remains committed to NATO’s collective security, especially at its southern and eastern borders.
“Spain will meet the capability targets NATO members agreed upon at Wednesday’s summit,” Sánchez said.
“Our plan to spend 2% of GDP on defense is sufficient and realistic.”
Two days before the summit, Sánchez had already announced Spain’s opt-out, a move that risked undermining NATO unity just ahead of Trump’s arrival.
Despite the disagreement, Sánchez framed the summit as a win for both sides: “In today’s summit, NATO wins and Spain wins something very important for our society, which is security and the welfare state.”
Trump on ‘Daddy’ label, says Rutte “likes me” Wrapping up his press conference, Trump fielded a playful question referencing NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s earlier comment calling Trump the “Daddy” of the alliance.
Asked if he viewed NATO allies as his children, Trump laughed but deflected.
‘Suspected explosive’ found on Winterton Road, Scunthorpe
Humberside Police found the object on Winterton Road in Scunthorpe. A cordon has been put in place and a bomb disposal team is on the scene.
Humberside Police said it found the object at about 12:00 BST on Winterton Road in Scunthorpe.
Road closures are also in place between the A1029 Winterton Road and Glebe Road roundabout, and the A1077 next to Dragonby Hill for the safety of the public.
The force said it was waiting for the bomb disposal team to arrive at the scene to examine the item.
Trump meets with NATO allies
President Trump contradicts US intelligence report on Iran strike. US and Iranian officials to meet next week. White House adviser criticizes how Congressional Budget Office analysis is being used. Justice Department official Emil Bove denies the account of a whistleblower as he was questioned by lawmakers weighing his nomination to become a federal appeals court judge. A new White House Council of Economic Advisers analysis of the Senate Finance Committee draft of Trump’s tax cuts package estimates $2.1 to £2.3 trillion in deficit reduction over ten years, based in part on higher tariffs revenue, and an economic boom that would increase the gross domestic product to 4.9% over four years. The analysis is markedly different from the Congressional budget office’s dynamic analysis of. the House-passed measure, which estimates that it would increase deficits by up to £1.8 trillion over the next decade and leave the lowest income Americans facing the biggest hit from the bill. The White House called the assessment “flat-out wrong.”
President Trump is meeting with members of a NATO alliance that he has worked to bend to his will over the years. NATO leaders agreed Wednesday on a massive hike in defense spending after pressure from Trump, and expressed their “ironclad commitment” to come to each other’s aid if attacked.
pinned Other news we’re following today: Link copied Trump contradicts US intelligence report on Iran strike: The Defense Intelligence Agency report suggests that Iran’s nuclear program has been set back only a few months after US strikes and was not “completely and fully obliterated” as Trump has repeatedly said. Trump and the White House called the assessment “flat-out wrong.”
US and Iranian officials to meet next week: Trump announced during a post-NATO summit press conference that Tehran and Washington could restart dialogues. “We may sign an agreement, I don’t know,” he said.
NATO leader praises Trump’s involvement in Iran-Israel war in private text: En route to The Hague yesterday, Trump posted a screenshot of a message sent to him by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, which read, “Congratulations and thank you for your decisive action in Iran, that was truly extraordinary, and something no one else dared to do. It makes us all safer.”
White House adviser criticizes how Congressional Budget Office analysis is being used — 11:54 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
The Council of Economic Advisers chair Stephen Miran told reporters Wednesday that the White House analysis greatly differs from Congressional Budget Office estimates due to factors that the CBO does not consider in its analysis of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including:
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a boost in tariff revenues
Trump administration plans to cut regulations
overall “energy abundance”
and estimated reduced interest payments on the national debt.
“The problem is not that the CBO is doing everything wrong,” Miran said. “The problem is that people are using the CBO score for purposes its not intended for.”
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White House economists release much sunnier estimate of Trump tax bill — 11:53 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
A new White House Council of Economic Advisers analysis of the Senate Finance Committee draft of Trump’s tax cuts package estimates $2.1 to $2.3 trillion in deficit reduction over ten years, based in part on higher tariffs revenue, and an economic boom that would increase the gross domestic product to 4.9% over four years.
The analysis is markedly different from the Congressional Budget Office’s dynamic analysis of the House-passed measure, which estimates that it would increase deficits by up to $2.8 trillion over the next decade and leave the lowest income Americans facing the biggest hit from the bill.
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The CEA didn’t provide an income distribution analysis.
Trump judicial nominee says he never advocated for defying court orders — 11:50 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Emil Bove, a top Justice Department official, denied the account of a whistleblower as he was questioned by lawmakers weighing his nomination to become a federal appeals court judge.
The whistleblower, a fired Justice Department lawyer, alleged in a complaint made by public Tuesday that Bove suggested during a meeting about Trump’s deportation efforts that the government might have to consider ignoring court orders.
Bove told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he has “never advised a Department of Justice attorney to defy a court order.”
“I don’t think there’s any validity this to the suggestion that that whistleblower complaint filed yesterday calls into question my qualifications to serve as a circuit judge,” Bove said.
Bondi defends DOJ official amid whistleblower claims — 11:45 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
The attorney general was asked during a congressional budget hearing Wednesday about a whistleblower’s claims that Trump judicial nominee and Justice Department official Emil Bove suggested ignoring court orders to carry out deportations.
Bondi said she found the timing “suspect,” a day before Bove’s confirmation hearing to become a federal appeals court judge.
Bondi noted that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has said the claims by the Justice Department lawyer — who was fired after acknowledging to a judge that Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported by mistake — are false.
“I stand by Emil Bove and I stand by Todd Blanche every day and I always will,” Bondi said.
Watch the hearing live:
Trump says he’s negotiating with Finland to buy a used icebreaker — 11:33 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Trump says he’s negotiating with Finland to buy icebreakers, which can help bolster US defenses in the Artic.
“You’re very good at icebreakers,” Trump told a reporter from Finland during his post-NATO summit news conference.
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Trump said he’s gone to Finnish President Alexander Stubb seeking to buy a “fairly used icebreaker,” and offered “about one third of what he asked for.”
“But we’re negotiating,” Trump said. “We need icebreakers in the US And, if we can get some inexpensively, I’d like to do that.”
He said Finland is the “king of icebreakers” and suggested the US might be willing to buy as many as 15 of them, including the used icebreaker that Trump said might be immediately available.
“We’re trying to make a good deal,” Trump said.
President Trump speaks during a media conference at the end of the NATO summit as Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio, right, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth listen, in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Alex Brandon/Associated Press
Trump shows unusual warmth toward a journalist — 11:13 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
The reporter who asked about the Patriot missile systems said her husband was a Ukrainian soldier. Trump, who laid into the US media throughout his news conference, gave her praise.
“That’s a very good question,” Trump said. “And I wish you a lot of luck. I mean, I can see it’s very upsetting to you. So say hello to your husband.”
Trump doesn’t rule out sending Ukraine more Patriot missile systems — 11:12 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Before the press conference ended, Trump had an exchange with a Ukrainian reporter, leaving open the possibility of sending Kyiv more US-made Patriot air defense missile systems.
“We’re going to see if we can make some available. Yeah, they’re very hard to get. We need them too. We’re supplying them to Israel, and, they’re very effective, 100% effective. Hard to believe how effective. They do want that more than any other thing.”
The US has routinely pressed for allies to provide air defense systems to Ukraine, but many are reluctant to give up the high-tech systems — particularly countries in eastern Europe that also feel threatened by Russia.
The US also is wary of giving too many away, since they are used all over the world to protect US forces and allies. The systems cost approximately $4 million per missile, and the launchers cost about $10 million each, analysts say.
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Trump press conference wraps with a question: Does he consider NATO members his children? — 11:07 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Trump’s press conference has wrapped with a question about a comment by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who suggested on Wednesday that Trump was “Daddy” to the alliance.
Asked if he considers NATO allies his children, Trump chuckled but didn’t offer a direct answer.
“No, he likes me. I think he likes me,” Trump said of Rutte.
The president heaped praise during his press conference on most NATO members for agreeing to increase their defense spending.
Link copied
By the Associated Press
Trump, departing from the NATO focus of his post-summit news conference, says he has candidates in mind to replace the US Federal Reserve chairman, though he offered his usual insults against Jerome Powell rather than providing more details.
The president has spent months pressuring the Fed chair to lower US interest rates. He said Wednesday that Powell is “an average mentally person” and has “low IQ for what he does.”
“I think he’s a very stupid person, actually,” Trump said.
Hegseth lashes out at press — 11:03 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives to attend the North Atlantic Council plenary meeting at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit in The Hague. LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Trump briefly ceded the stage to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a question about the impact of US strikes on Iran.
“There’s a reason the president calls out the fake news for what it is,” Hegseth said, accusing media outlets of using a leaked intelligence assessment to politically damage Trump.
“They want to spin it to try to make him look bad,” Hegseth said.
Trump said he’ll make Spain pay higher tariffs because it won’t go along with NATO spending increase — 11:01 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Trump said he doesn’t know what “the problem” with Spain, calling the country’s position unfair to other members of the NATO alliance.
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“They want a little bit of a free ride, but they’ll have to pay it back to us on trade,” he said, making up for it through higher tariffs.
But Spain belongs to the European Union, the world’s largest trading bloc, which negotiates trade deals on behalf of all 27 member countries. They are not meant to negotiate trade deals individually.
Asked about that, Trump said, “I’m going to negotiate directly with Spain. I’m going to do it myself.”
Most NATO member countries agreed Wednesday to increase defense spending to 5% of their GDP. Spain claimed an exception and said it would increase spending to 2%.
Spain’s Prime Minister calls his country’s defense spending “sufficient and realistic” after NATO summit — 10:47 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Pedro Sánchez said Spain will meet the capability targets NATO members agreed upon at Wednesday’s summit, and continue being a key part of Europe’s security apparatus at its southern border as well as the eastern flank with Russia.
And Sanchez called his country’s plan to spend 2% of gross domestic product on defense “sufficient and realistic.”
Two days before the summit, Sánchez announced that Spain had secured an opt-out from the 5% of GDP spending target that NATO allies agreed to at The Hague.
The move threatened the unity of the military alliance as leaders prepared to meet with Trump, who has pushed Europe to spend more on its defense and rebuked Spain for its low spending.
“In today’s summit, NATO wins and Spain wins something very important for our society, which is security and the welfare state,” Sánchez said.
Trump says Vladimir Putin wants to settle war in Ukraine — 10:41 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
“He’d like to get out of this thing. It’s a mess for him,” Trump said of the Russian president. “He called the other day, and he said, ‘Can I help you with Iran?’ I said ‘no, you can help me with Russia.’”
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Trump is heaping praise on NATO, saying most of its leaders ‘love’ the US — 10:40 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
The president said he came to the NATO summit as a political chore, but is leaving convinced that the assembled leaders love the alliance, their own countries and, mostly importantly, the United States.
“I came here because it was something I was supposed to be doing. But I left here a little bit different,” Trump said.
He called NATO leaders a “nice group of people” and said “almost every one of them said ‘thank God for the United States.’”
Trump praised most member countries for agreeing to increase defense spending, adding: “They need the United States and without the United States it’s not going to be the same.”
Trump defends allowing Iran to sell oil to China amid pause in fighting with Israel — 10:39 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Trump characterized the gesture as an indication that the US might be willing to let bygone be bygones with Iran.
Asked if doing so could reduce economic pressure on Iran at a delicate time, Trump responded: “They’re going to need money to put that country back into shape. We want to see that happen.”
He harkened back to the US-led war in Iraq, before the start of his political career, and said, “I used to say with Iraq, ‘Keep the oil.’ I could say it here too.’”
The statement was surprising given Trump’s harsh rhetoric against Iran recently, including his insistence that Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon.
Trump says US will talk with Iran next week — 10:33 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
“I’ll tell you what, we’re going to talk with them next week, with Iran. We may sign an agreement, I don’t know,” Trump said.
It was a surprise disclosure about the possibility of restarting dialogue between Tehran and Washington.
Trump says ‘I’m not’ interested in restarting talks with Iran — 10:32 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
“The way I look at it, they fought, the war is done,” he said.
“I don’t care if I have an agreement or not” because “we destroyed the nuclear,” deflating Iran’s atomic ambitions.
“They’re not going to be doing it anyway,” Trump said. “They’ve had it.”
Trump suggests he may support renaming the Secretary of Defense back to the Secretary of War — 10:31 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
In comments at the press conference, Trump said he, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top US officials felt like their work during the conflict in Iran made them warriors.
Referring to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Trump said, “Should we say secretary of war?”
The president noted that the Cabinet position was originally known as the Secretary of War. “Maybe, for a few weeks, we’ll call it that because we feel like warriors,” he said, while acknowledging that the original name might not be politically correct.
Trump says he’s confident Israel-Iran war is over — 10:30 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Trump said the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities brought the conflict to a close. He’s been calling it the “12 day war,” suggesting a definitive end to the conflict.
“I think they’re very much finished,” he said of Israel and Iran. “They’re both tired, exhausted.”
Trump says US base in Qatar targeted by Iran had been nearly totally emptied out before that attack began — 10:28 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Trump says nearly all military personnel was moved off a US military base before Iran targeted it with multiple missile strikes earlier this week. No casualties had previously been reported during Iran’s Monday attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Trump said Wednesday during his post-NATO summit press conference that “everyone was emptied off the base” except “the gunners.”
Iran targeted the Al Udeid base in retaliation for the US bombing three of its nuclear facilities last weekend.
Trump continues to defend impact of US strikes on Iran — 10:28 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
The president used his NATO press conference to press his claims that he had delivered a devastating blow to Iran’s nuclear program. It was a lengthy digression from the summit’s focus on European security.
“The site has been demolished,” he said.
“We had these brave patriots, these incredible fliers,” Trump said about U.S. pilots who led the attack with U.S. stealth bombers. “The shots were hit perfectly.”
Trump hails NATO agreement to increase defense spending as ‘big win’ for Western civilization — 10:23 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Getting most NATO members to agree to increase their defense spending relative to GDP is something Trump has sought since 2017, feeling that the US was shouldering too much of the burden.
Trump hailed the alliance’s vote on Wednesday to have most members boost that spending to 5%, with the key exception of Spain. He said the increase will add more than $1 trillion per year to “our common defense.”
The US president said the vote will be known as “the Hague defense commitment” and as a “monument really to victory.”
“This is a big win for Europe and, actually, for Western civilization,” Trump said.
Trump says increased NATO spending will help prevent future conflicts like Ukraine — 10:22 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
“Europe stepping up to take more responsibility for security will help prevent future disasters like the horrible situation with Russia and Ukraine,” Trump told reporters at his summit-ending news conference. “And hopefully we’re going to get that solved.”
Trump’s post-NATO summit press conference is underway — 10:20 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Trump’s press conference after the NATO summit has begun.
The president used his opening remarks to praise the “massive precision strike on Iran” that he ordered, and again declared that Iran’s nuclear program had been “obliterated” despite early US intelligence assessments questioning that.
“We call it the 12-day war” Trump said of the conflict between Iran and Israel, and he said the US considers the hostilities concluded.
Trump and Zelenskyy huddled for about 50 minutes — 10:18 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
“We covered all the truly important issues,” Zelenskyy posted on social media following the leaders’ talks. “I thank Mr. President, I thank the United States. We discussed how to achieve a ceasefire and a real peace. We spoke about how to protect our people. We appreciate the attention and the readiness to help bring peace closer.”
It was the first face-to-face talks between the US and Ukrainian leaders since April, when they huddled at St. Peter’s Basilica during Pope Francis’ funeral.
Link copied
By the Associated Press
The French President appeared annoyed at repeated questions about Trump’s views at the NATO summit.
“I’m not the President of the United States of America,” Macron told reporters. “Ask him the question.”
Macron’s unusual irritation notably comes after Trump said whether he’ll commit to NATO mutual defense guarantee “depends on your definition.”
“It’s very simple, my job is not to interpret his comments,” Macron said. “What I’m saying is that this solidarity (between allies) does exist, it’s in our texts.”
Also asked whether he’s worried that Europe’s security relies on decisions from the U.S. president, Macron said: “That’s not the case. I’m telling it to you, for France, which has a full, well-equipped army with the (nuclear) dissuasion, that’s not the case. We don’t rely on others.”
Germany’s leader renews appeal to Trump to tighten sanctions against Russia — 10:02 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday that while meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit he “encouraged” the US president to get behind a sanctions bill in the US Senate, and that it seems that Trump “is considering intensively what he can do.’
Merz noted that European Union leaders plan to agree on more sanctions of their own at a summit Thursday. But he said that “this alone will not be enough; we also need stronger participation by the United States of America in such sanctions.”
Trump and Zelensky have begun their meeting — 9:49 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
The US and Ukrainian presidents are meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, according to Zelenskyy’s spokesperson Serhii Nykyforov.
NATO summit brings together ‘Dutch Donald Trump’ and real Donald Trump — 9:49 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
The Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders chatted with the US president on the sidelines of the NATO summit, where world leaders had just agreed on a massive hike in defense spending after pressure from Trump. Like Trump, Wilders has similar anti-immigration, pro-Israel policies and a love for fiery rhetoric and frequent social media use.
In a post on X, Wilders thanked Trump for the “excellent meeting.” Wilders says the two talked about the need for tougher immigration rules.
Wilders took home a big win in the last Dutch election. But he pulled the plug last month on the four-party coalition formed in the wake of the 2023 vote following a dispute over migration after governing for just 11 months.
Despite his anti-Islam Party for Freedom taking the largest share of seats in parliament, Wilders was too unpalatable even for his coalition partners to helm the government. The top job went to civil servant Dick Schoof instead.
JD Vance flips his middle finger, Trump drops an f-bomb — 9:48 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
During a Republican fundraiser in Lima, Ohio, on Tuesday night, the vice president flipped his middle finger toward the crowd as he jokingly commiserated about the difficulties of being a modern political candidate. He said making the vulgar gesture is common in the nation’s capital.
“All the pink-haired people throw up this sign,” he said, to laughter. “And I think that means ‘We’re No. 1,’ right? I choose to take that as that symbol in Washington.”
Vance said he was kidding, but the joke happened to come on the same day that Trump used the f-word for real. Trump was describing his frustration with both Israel and Iran appearing to have broken the terms of a ceasefire.
Starmer says NATO support for Ukraine stands strong — 9:46 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a media conference at the end of the NATO summit. WPA Pool/Getty
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer say NATO’s support for Ukraine is undimmed, despite there being only a brief mention of its war with Russia in the alliance’s brief summit communique.
“On the question of Ukraine, the position of NATO has not changed,” Starmer told reporters. “While we work to lower the temperature in the Middle East, we will not for a moment lose focus on Ukraine.”
He denied Ukraine had been sidelined. “In my discussions with leaders there’s been a real resolve that now is the time to push again to get Putin to the table for the unconditional ceasefire.”
Supporting NATO’s call for members to spend 5% of national income on defense and security, he said: “This is the moment to unite, for Europe to make fundamental shift in its posture and for NATO to meet this challenge head on.”
Emmanuel Macron calls threat of heavy US tariffs on European goods an ‘aberration’ — 9:41 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
The French president confirmed he mentioned the issue while in the Netherlands to leaders including Trump.
Speaking to reporters after the NATO summit, Macron said the decision from European Allies to substantially increase their defense spendings should “obviously lead to trade peace.”
“We can’t as Allies say ‘we need to spend more, we’re going to spend more,’ and within NATO, fighting a trade war. That’s an aberration,” Macron said.
Asked whether Trump appeared to hear the message, “ask him the question,” Macron answered.
Trump says he supports NATO mutual defense guarantees — 8:56 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Trump was less than declarative on on his way to the summit when he was asked about his support for Article 5 of the NATO treaty. Asked Wednesday to clarify, Trump said he supports the essential NATO pledge, that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
“I stand with it, that’s why I’m here,” Trump said as he met with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof. “If I didn’t stand with it I wouldn’t be here.”
Trump had told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday that whether he is committed to Article 5 “depends on your definition.” The comment rattled NATO members.
“There’s numerous definitions of Article 5. You know that, right?” Trump said on the plane. “But I’m committed to being their friends.” He also signaled that he would give a more precise definition of what Article 5 means to him once he was at the summit.
Trump keeps lashing out at media over intel assessment — 8:53 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
The White House, looking to support Trump’s contention that Iran’s nuclear program was devastated by US airstrikes, distributed a statement from the Israel Atomic Energy Commission.
“We assess that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran’s military nuclear program, has set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years,” the statement said.
A US intelligence assessment, which leaked on Tuesday, said there was a delay of only a few months.
Trump said media outlets were “disgusting” for reporting on the assessment, describing them as “very unfair to the pilots, who risked their lives for our country.”
NATO leaders agree to hike spending and ‘ironclad’ vow to defend each other if attacked — 8:26 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
NATO leaders agreed on Wednesday on a massive hike in defense spending after pressure from Trump, and expressed their “ironclad commitment” to come to each other’s aid if attacked.
The 32 leaders endorsed a final summit statement saying: “Allies commit to invest 5% of GDP annually on core defence requirements as well as defence-and security-related spending by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective obligations.”
Spain had already officially announced that it cannot meet the target, and others have voiced reservations, but the investment pledge includes a review of spending in 2029 to monitor progress and reassess the security threat posed by Russia.
The leaders also underlined their “ironclad commitment” to NATO’s collective security guarantee — “that an attack on one is an attack on all.” Ahead of the summit, Trump had again raised doubts over whether the United States would defend its allies.
Disruption in cellphone networks across the Netherlands — 8:17 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Mobile networks are down across the Netherlands as the country hosts the summit of NATO leaders.
The problem lies with a system of provider Odido, as well as several of its subsidiaries. The company says that its customers are experiencing widespread outages.
Job Holzhauer, a spokesman for the Dutch National Cybersecurity Center, said the agency wasn’t involved and that the primary responsibility for investigating the outage lies with the provider.
He said the cybersecurity center would only get involved if the provider’s investigation confirms a cyberattack.
Zelenskyy will sign off on special tribunal — 8:16 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
From left, European Council President Antonio Costa, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for photographers prior to a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands. Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Associated Press
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to formally approve plans to set up a new international court to prosecute senior Russian officials for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The special tribunal will be created through an agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe, the continent’s top human rights body.
Zelenskyy will visit the Strasbourg-based organization after he leaves The Hague, where the NATO summit is being held.
Some allies face pressures in meeting 5% target — 8:15 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Many European countries face major economic challenges, and Trump’s global tariff war could make it even harder for Washington’s NATO allies to reach defense spending levels of 5% of their GDP.
Some countries are already squeezing welfare and foreign aid spending to channel extra funds into their military budgets.
NATO chief opens summit in his hometown — 8:14 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Secretary-General Mark Rutte has opened the annual NATO leaders’ summit in his hometown of The Hague.
Rutte, a former longtime Dutch prime minister, opened the meeting of 32 allies at a conference center that has been enveloped in the biggest security operation ever mounted in the Netherlands.
Rutte said the meeting’s central aim is for leaders to endorse a plan to boost military spending to 5% of their economic output by 2035 and more fairly spread the cost of collective defense.
“For too long, one ally, the United States, carried too much of the burden of that commitment and that changes today,” Rutte said.
NATO’s Article 5 security guarantee — 8:13 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
On the eve of the NATO summit, Trump told reporters that his commitment to Article 5 “depends on your definition.”
The comment raised questions about Washington’s commitment to defend its allies should they come under attack from outside.
Article 5 is the foundation stone on which the 32-member NATO alliance is built. It states that an armed attack against one or more of the members shall be considered an attack against all members.
It also states that if such an armed attack occurs, each member would take, individually and in concert with others, “such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.’’
Trump says he’ll meet with Zelenskyy — 8:09 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Trump confirmed that he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
“We’ll discuss the obvious,” Trump said. “We’ll discuss his difficulties.”
Trump added of Zelenskyy: “Nice guy.”
The two leaders were supposed to meet at the Group of Seven summit in Canada earlier this month, but Trump departed for Washington early to deal with the Middle East conflict.
Trump insists Iran’s nuclear facilities were ‘obliterated’ — 8:03 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Trump is pushing back on reports of preliminary intelligence findings that the US strikes on Iran set back their nuclear program by only months.
He said the intelligence was “very inconclusive,” but he continued to insist the outcome of the bombing was “complete obliteration.”
“It was obliteration, and you’ll see that,” Trump told reporters on the margins of the NATO summit in the Netherlands.
The president also drew a World War II comparison with the US strikes on Iran.
“That hit ended the war. I don’t want to use an example of Hiroshima. I don’t want to use an example of Nagasaki,” Trump said. “But that was essentially the same thing. That ended that war.”
Trump administration will launch leak investigation — 8:08 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says there will be an investigation into who disclosed preliminary intelligence findings that found US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran set back Tehran’s nuclear program by only months.
“It was preliminary, it was low confidence,” Hegseth said as Trump was meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the summit in The Hague.
Hegseth said “of course” the administration is launching a leak investigation and said discussions had started with the FBI. Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump stood by their assertions that the strikes led to “complete and total obliteration.”
“These leakers are professional stabbers,” Rubio said. “That’s what they are.”
Hungary’s leader says Russia not ‘a real threat’ — 8:07 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán arrives as NATO leaders and spouses arrive for a dinner hosted by the King and Queen of the Netherlands. Omar Havana/Getty
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán doesn’t believe, as other European countries do, that Russia could carry out an attack on NATO territory by the end of the decade.
“I think Russia is not strong enough to represent a real threat to us. We are far stronger,” said Orbán, fielding questions from reporters, leaning back with his hands thrust into his pockets.
Orbán is considered Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in Europe.
Lithuania’s president says ‘make NATO great again’ — 8:02 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
In a fresh take on Trump’s MAGA movement, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said as he arrived for the NATO summit: “We should choose a motto ‘make NATO great again.’”
NATO allies plan major revamp of spending targets — 8:01 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
They are expected to up the ante for what NATO calls “core defense spending” to 3.5%, while changing how it’s counted to include providing military support to Ukraine.
To hit Trump’s 5% demand, the deal will set a second target of 1.5% of GDP for a broader range of defense-related spending, such as improving roads, bridges, ports and airfields so that armies can deploy more quickly, countering cyber and hybrid attack measures, or preparing societies to deal with future conflicts.
Progress will be reviewed in 2029, after the next US presidential election.
German leader confident of drastic spending increase — 8:00 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he’s confident NATO members will decide on a drastic increase in defense spending “not to do anyone a favor” but because they are convinced the threat level has changed.
Merz said as he arrived at the NATO summit that he believes the decision to raise the alliance’s spending target to a cumulative 5% of gross domestic product will be made “in great harmony.”
He said that allies agree that “the threat situation has changed, and the threat is Russia in particular.”
‘Birth of a new NATO’ — 7:59 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Those are the words of Finland’s president about the 5% spending goal.
While Spain says it can’t commit to that increase, other countries closer to the borders of Russia and Ukraine say they can.
“This is a big win, I think, for both President Trump and I think it’s also a big win for Europe,” Finnish President Alexander Stubb told reporters. “We’re witnessing the birth of a new NATO, which means a more balanced NATO.”
A fragile cease-fire between Iran and Israel gives rise to hopes for longer peace — 5:50 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
The fragile cease-fire between Israel and Iran appeared to be holding Wednesday after a rocky start, giving rise to cautious hope it could lead to a longer term peace agreement, even as Tehran insisted it would not give up its nuclear program.
The ceasefire took hold Tuesday on the 12th day of the war between Israel and Iran, with each side initially accusing the other of violating it until the missiles, drones and bombs finally stopped.
On Wednesday, President Trump, who helped negotiate the ceasefire, told reporters at a NATO summit in the Netherlands that it was going “very well.”
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Kilmar Abrego Garcia is expected to be released from jail only to be taken into immigration custody — 2:24 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Kilmar Abrego Garcia is expected to be released from jail in Tennessee on Wednesday, only to be taken into immigration custody.
The Salvadoran national whose mistaken deportation became a flashpoint in the fight over President Trump’s immigration policies has been in jail since he was returned to the US on June 7, facing two counts of human smuggling.
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Representative LaMonica McIver to be arraigned on assault charges stemming from immigration center visit — 1:02 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Representative LaMonica McIver is set to be arraigned on federal charges Wednesday, accused of assaulting and interfering with immigration officers outside a New Jersey detention center during a congressional oversight visit at the facility. She has said she plans to fight the charges.
McIver, a Democrat, was charged in a complaint by interim US Attorney Alina Habba, a Republican appointed by President Trump, following the May 9 visit to Newark’s Delaney Hall, a privately owned, 1,000-bed facility that Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses as a detention center.
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Iranian-backed hackers go to work after US strikes — 12:34 a.m. Link copied
By the Associated Press
Hackers backing Tehran have targeted US banks, defense contractors, and oil industry companies following American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities — but so far have not caused widespread disruptions to critical infrastructure or the economy.
But that could change if the ceasefire between Iran and Israel collapses or if independent hacking groups supporting Iran make good on promises to wage their own digital conflict against the US, analysts and cyber experts say.
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