Bloomberg: Trump Will Discuss Leaving NATO in Meeting With Rutte — White House Confirms Withdrawal Is 'On the Table'

Bloomberg reported on April 7 that President Trump plans to raise the prospect of US withdrawal from NATO in his upcoming meeting with Secretary General Mark Rutte scheduled for April 8. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the reporting, telling reporters that NATO withdrawal is 'something the president has discussed, and I think it's something the president will be discussing in a couple of hours with Secretary-General Rutte.' Leavitt framed allies' refusal to participate in the Iran war as a fundamental test of the alliance that European members had failed: 'They turned their backs on us.' The announcement that Trump intended to formally raise withdrawal in the closed-door session marked the clearest indication yet that US departure from the alliance was now being considered as a live policy option rather than a rhetorical pressure tactic. Stars and Stripes described 'NATO fate looming over Rutte's White House sit-down.' The Notus outlet reported Rutte had arrived in Washington on an alliance 'rescue mission.'