Live Updates: Trump calls NATO allies "cowards" amid Iran war as more Marines and warships head toward Middle East - CBS News

CBS News
March 20, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Trump criticized NATO allies as cowards while deploying additional Marines and warships to the Middle East amid Iran tensions.

AI Summary

President Trump criticized NATO allies as "cowards" while military tensions escalate in the Middle East, according to live updates from CBS News. The White House is simultaneously deploying additional Marines and warships to the region amid an ongoing confrontation with Iran. Trump's rebuke of NATO members reflects his long-standing criticism of the alliance's defense spending and burden-sharing, while the military buildup signals an escalation in the administration's posture toward Iran. The dual messaging—attacking traditional allies while reinforcing military presence in a volatile region—underscores potential friction within the Western alliance at a moment of heightened Middle East instability. The deployment and inflammatory rhetoric together indicate the Trump administration is taking a more aggressive stance on both alliance management and Iran policy.

Source Coverage Map

5 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

12% coverage
Did Not Cover (38)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP News96AP US News96AP Top News96+33 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Trump calls NATO "cowards" over lack of support in Iran war - Reuters
Politics

Trump calls NATO "cowards" over lack of support in Iran war - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimAFBVV95cUxOMkFlM1VHM0txVDRyak1raV9VcnE2N2VvUGtGZ0h2Q3JSbTgzS1FVQ1Y2cGRUS2xBYXFKYmlTRV90d25CM3BTRGlhUG9mUjRldV9hbC1uZEtRY3BBbTY0OWpIQWxZTTFxcXIxZ0h6cGhkZ0FMdXJzWE1MdWotWXJOWktqRmZDcmg4YURseGNDWmx5bC00ZjRMUg?oc=5" target="_blank">Trump calls NATO "cowards" over lack of support in Iran war</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersMar 20
Hegseth hammers European allies, media in staunch Trump defense over Iran war
National Security

Hegseth hammers European allies, media in staunch Trump defense over Iran war

Morning Report is The Hill’s a.m. newsletter. Subscribe here. In today’s issue: ▪ Hegseth goes after allies, media ▪ Trump says no boots on ground in Iran ▪ SAVE America Act votes coming ▪ Education Department portfolio moves Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has taken on the role of top attack dog defending President Trump while he oversees…

The HillMar 20
Trump aides tried to block appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to US, reports say – US politics live
Politics

Trump aides tried to block appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to US, reports say – US politics live

<p>Senior figures said to have been skeptical over Keir Starmer’s appointment of ‘arrogant’ veteran politician, later sacked over connections to Jeffrey Epstein</p><p>Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog.</p><p><strong>Donald Trump’s presidential transition team repeatedly intervened in UK prime minister Keir Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US, it has been reported.</strong></p><p>Trump’s aides were particularly exercised that Mandelson could be made ambassador after he had made<strong> </strong>disparaging public remarks about the president in the past, according to both officials.</p><p><strong>Donald Trump</strong> created an extremely awkward moment for Japan’s prime minister, <strong>Sanae Takaichi</strong>, in the Oval Office on Thursday when he responded to a question from a Japanese reporter about why the US attacked Iran without warning allies like Japan, by joking about Imperial Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.</...

The Guardian US NewsMar 20
Middle East crisis live: Trump reportedly considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island - The Guardian
National Security

Middle East crisis live: Trump reportedly considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island - The Guardian

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0gFBVV95cUxNUG1oWXgwZHM4d0VnZXAtN0JfbWV2dFFIU0FXejVyZjh4QnB3SGdabWtTQTZmTWxIX0Q4NGdIQlNLRHM2QTFYM0dodTBhWmRQSGhfQ3VFQXNEdzFvZnpYMHI5cHZUTEJGSUV5TkNWc1FSTGcxYXhDd0ZydUVrQi1hTDJQYjB3MWpFTWs0c2xhZDVIZXVTTFk0X0lRc3R0cGZGR0RDSDhSVG94Vzktdzg1dWVjanBYclFncWd6YXJBazVMWU5PT3d0Q0N5eGFwZk9YSmc?oc=5" target="_blank">Middle East crisis live: Israel strikes Tehran; Netanyahu suggests need for ‘ground component’ in Iran war</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">The Guardian</font><strong><a href="https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqNggKIjBDQklTSGpvSmMzUnZjbmt0TXpZd1NoRUtEd2pHdV9qYkVCR2V6bWUwVlpWVC1DZ0FQAQ?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en&oc=5" target="_blank">View Full Coverage on Google News</a></strong>

The GuardianMar 20
Answering Trump's call for help in Middle East 'political suicide' for allies
Global

Answering Trump's call for help in Middle East 'political suicide' for allies

President Donald Trump urged NATO partners and China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz as it remains closed due to the ongoing war in the Middle East triggered by the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. FRANCE 24's Oliver Farry looks at why Trump's plan could be easier said than done.

AFP / France 24Mar 16
Trump mulls risky Kharg Island takeover to force Iran to open strait
National Security

Trump mulls risky Kharg Island takeover to force Iran to open strait

<p>The Trump administration is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/strait-hormuz-coalition-allies-statement-uk" target="_blank">Strait of Hormuz</a>, four sources with knowledge of the issue tell Axios.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> President Trump can't end the war, at least on his terms, until he breaks <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/13/iran-war-mines-strait-of-hormuz" target="_blank">Iran's chokehold</a> on shipping through the strait. In the meantime, global <a href="https://www.axios.com/energy-climate/oil-companies" target="_blank">energy</a> prices are surging.</p><hr><ul><li>But an operation to take over Kharg Island, which sits 15 miles offshore and processes 90% of Iran's crude oil exports, could put U.S. troops more directly in the line of fire.</li><li>Thus, such an operation would only be launched after the U.S. military further degrades Iran's military capa...

AxiosMar 20
Read Next
Trump is dismantling democracy, reports find. And, Treasury to take over student loans
Politics

Trump is dismantling democracy, reports find. And, Treasury to take over student loans

Recent studies show the U.S. is slipping further from democracy. And, the Trump administration plans to transfer federal student loans from the Education Department to the Treasury Department.

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources