‘Would Be In The Ash Heap Of History’: Trump Says NATO Exists Because Of Him Ahead Of Davos

Last Updated:January 21, 2026, 02:08 IST

Trump’s comments come as NATO allies push back on his Greenland remarks ahead of the Davos summit.

US President Donald Trump gestures as he gives a press conference during a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Heads of State and Government summit in The Hague. (IMAGE: AFP)

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that NATO continues to exist because of his leadership, arguing that the alliance would have collapsed without him, as European leaders meeting in Davos vowed an “unflinching" response to his remarks on Greenland.

“No single person, or President, has done more for NATO than President Donald J. Trump. If I didn’t come along, there would be no NATO right now. It would have been in the ash heap of history. Sad, but TRUE," Trump wrote on Truth Social, a day before he is set to travel to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum.

Trump repeated the claim during a White House briefing marking one year in office in his second term, insisting that he had done more for the military alliance than any other leader and questioning whether NATO members would come to the United States’ defence in a crisis. “Nobody’s done more for NATO than I have," he said, adding that while Washington would come to the alliance’s rescue, he was not convinced the same commitment would be reciprocated.

“NATO has to treat us fairly, too," Trump said. “We spend a tremendous amount on NATO, and I know we’ll come to their rescue. But I really do question whether or not they’ll come to ours."

The remarks come amid heightened tensions over Greenland, after NATO members voiced strong opposition to Trump’s stated desire to take control of the territory. European leaders meeting in Davos pushed back firmly, warning against any unilateral moves that could destabilise the transatlantic alliance.

In the run-up to his Davos trip, Trump also posted what appeared to be private text messages from French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. In one message shared by Trump, Rutte said he was “committed to finding a way forward on Greenland" and added, “Can’t wait to see you."

News world ‘Would Be In The Ash Heap Of History’: Trump Says NATO Exists Because Of Him Ahead Of Davos

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