Ex-official Claims Trump Has Weakened NATO Amid Trust Crisis

WHO:

Alternet - Miles Taylor, former Homeland Security chief of staff under Trump

The Daily Beast - Jana Kobzová, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations

The Daily Beast - Paweł Zerka, co-author of the report from the European Council on Foreign Relations

WHAT:

Alternet - President Trump has “destroyed” NATO, according to Miles Taylor.

The Daily Beast - Only 11 percent of respondents across 15 countries view the U.S. as an ally, down from 16 percent six months ago and 22 percent in November 2024.

The Daily Beast - 13 percent of Europeans now consider the U.S. a rival, and 12 percent a direct adversary.

The Daily Beast - The survey found that majorities in every country surveyed no longer believe the U.S. would come to their aid if attacked.

The Daily Beast - Support for collective European Union borrowing to fund defense is at 47 percent, with 35 percent opposed.

The Daily Beast - 44 percent of Europeans said resuming oil and gas imports from Russia would still be a bad idea.

WHERE:

The Daily Beast - The survey was conducted across Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Alternet - Trump is scheduled to attend a G7 meeting in France and a NATO summit in Turkey.

WHEN:

Alternet - Trump is set to attend the G7 meeting in mid-June and the NATO summit in early July.

WHY:

The Daily Beast - The decline in trust is attributed to Trump’s military aggression in the Middle East, threats against Greenland, vows to pull troops from European bases, and skepticism about NATO.

The Daily Beast - Europeans are increasingly open to higher defense spending and reducing dependence on U.S. military hardware.

HOW:

Alternet - The European Council on Foreign Relations conducted a survey to assess trust in the U.S. among European nations.

(UPDATED June 10, 2026 17:58 UTC)

Miles Taylor, who served as chief of staff under Trump, claims that President Trump has “destroyed” NATO, as a recent survey reveals a significant decline in trust towards the U.S. among European nations. Only 11 percent of respondents across 15 countries now view the U.S. as an ally, while 13 percent consider it a rival and 12 percent a direct adversary, with majorities expressing doubt that the U.S. would come to their aid if attacked. As Trump prepares to attend a G7 meeting in France in mid-June and a NATO summit in Turkey in early July, the survey highlights a growing openness among Europeans to increase defense spending and reduce reliance on U.S. military support.