Trump's team has created a 'naughty and nice' list to punish NATO nations that don't back his plans

Source: The Independent

Wednesday 22 April 2026 14:01 EDT


The Trump administration has reportedly drawn up a “naught or nice”-style list of NATO allies, separating them into different categories based on how the U.S. grades their contribution to the alliance.

The reported effort comes as President Donald Trump has furiously denounced the transatlantic alliance for not doing more to support the U.S. war against Iran.

A European diplomat told Politico the reported list appears to be an extension of an idea Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth floated in December, when he told a defense forum that “model allies” will receive the “special favor” of the U.S. and nations “that still fail to do their part for collective defense will face consequences.”. “The White House has a naughty and nice paper so I guess the thinking is similar,” the diplomat said.

Hegseth has used the “model ally” language in meetings with NATO members, another diplomat told the outlet. The list was reportedly prepared in advance of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s visit to Washington earlier this month.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-nato-iran-war-list-b2962945.html