Trump considers troop shifts over NATO reluctance on Iran war: Report

The Trump administration is weighing a plan to punish some NATO member countries for their reluctance to support the US and Israel during the war with Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

Citing administration officials, the report said the proposal would involve moving US troops out of NATO countries deemed unhelpful to the Iran war effort and stationing them in nations more supportive of the US military campaign.

The plan falls short of US President Donald Trump's previous threats to fully withdraw the US from the alliance, a step that would require congressional approval under existing law, the report said.

The report comes as Trump hosts NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House.

Earlier, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump believes NATO was "tested, and they failed" during the Iran war.

"It's quite sad that NATO turned its back on the American people over the course of the last six weeks when it's the American people who have been funding their defense," she said.

When asked about Trump's consideration of withdrawing the US from NATO, Leavitt said it is something that the president will discuss with Rutte.

"And perhaps you'll hear directly from the president following that meeting later this afternoon," she said.