Trump Demands More From NATO as Gulf States ‘Hit So Hard’ 

President Donald Trump on Tuesday continued his call for more NATO assistance in the Middle East. 

When asked by The Daily Signal’s White House Correspondent Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell if he wanted the Gulf States to be more involved in the ongoing operation against Iran, Trump said, “A little bit, but more—more NATO.”  

“I think our Gulf allies have been pretty good, to be honest with you,” he told The Daily Signal. “[The United Arab Emirates] has been hit so hard. I think they got hit by 1,400 rockets, shot them all out of the air with our great—with our great Patriot missiles.” 

Trump spoke with reporters at a White House event for the swearing-in of new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

The president has previously called on NATO allies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

He went on to praise the military’s ability to think and respond quickly, saying, “These guys don’t choke. They’re the best in the world. We have the best in the world.” 

Trump said that Iran “shot 100 missiles at one of our aircraft carriers, the Abraham Lincoln, one of the biggest ships in the world.” 

Out of the “highly sophisticated, very fast” missiles shot, “all 101 were shot down,” Trump said. “Our military is amazing.” 

Throughout his remarks, Trump emphasized the effectiveness of U.S. military equipment and the ability of American service members to perform under pressure.