Trump news at a glance: president blasts Nato allies amid reports US will send more troops to Middle East

President Trump called NATO allies "cowards" for resisting involvement in efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments. In response, more than a dozen nations—including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, and South Korea—issued a joint statement Thursday pledging to support "appropriate efforts" to maintain freedom of navigation through the strait, though they offered no specifics on how they would contribute. The vague commitment suggests allied reluctance to match Trump's aggressive stance on the issue while avoiding outright rejection of U.S. pressure. Reports indicate the Trump administration is simultaneously planning to send additional U.S. troops to the Middle East, signaling a more assertive military posture in the region. The clash reflects ongoing tension between the White House's expectations of allied burden-sharing and Europe and Asia's more cautious approach to escalating involvement in Middle Eastern security operations.