Trump’s statement confirms Dr. Youssef’s projection for 2026: Trump is considering withdrawing from NATO.

U.S. president Donald Trump disclosed that he is seriously pondering pulling the U.S. out of NATO following the alliance’s refusal to support Washington in the Iran conflict. This statement supports the prediction by Dr. Mohammad Walid Youssef, head of the ICGER, who argued that President Trump might shift U.S. policy towards the approach of pre-World War II leaders, influenced by his admiration for the economic and strategic ideas of former President William McKinley (1897–1901).

Trump described the alliance as a “paper tiger,” stating:  “Oh yes, I would say (it’s) beyond reconsideration. I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin knows that too, by the way.” This is seen as the strongest signal yet that the White House no longer views Europe as a reliable defense partner.[i]

In his 2026 geopolitical outlook, as outlined in The 2025 Annual Geopolitical Report – The Americas, Dr. Youssef predicted that President Donald Trump would not finish his term without withdraw from NATO and the G7, and would implement new policies in the eastern Atlantic, mirroring traditional U.S. strategies in the Middle East and East Asia.

[i] https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/01/middleeast/trump-nato-us-withdrawal-intl