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LetMyPeopleVote

(179,092 posts)
38. MaddowBlog-After alienating allies and declaring victory, Trump 'demands' foreign help in war
Mon Mar 16, 2026, 10:52 AM
Monday

Foreign countries haven’t exactly rushed to answer the American president’s call for assistance. Imagine that.

So to sum up:
1. Trump alienates/insults allies
2. he launches an unnecessary war with no international legitimacy
3. he declares war “over,” dismisses need for allies’ help
4. he sees the war go sideways
5. he “demands” allies help us solve a problem he said doesn’t exist
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-03-16T13:42:17.264Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/after-alienating-allies-and-declaring-victory-trump-demands-foreign-help-in-war

During the first week of the war in Iran, multiple British news outlets reported that the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier was preparing for possible deployment to the Middle East to assist the United States and Israel. Seven days into the conflict, however, Donald Trump, who has a habit of insulting and alienating our closest allies, used his social media platform to deliver a message to leaders in the U.K.: Don’t bother.

“The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” the American president wrote. “That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer — But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”...

After claiming in an NBC News interview that unnamed countries had already committed to helping secure the strait — a dubious assertion, given the circumstances and available information — the Republican “demanded” that foreign nations step up and provide the U.S. with the kind of security assistance he recently said was unnecessary.

Trump on Strait of Hormuz: "Really, I'm demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their territory ... they should help us. You could make the case that maybe we shouldn't be there at all, because we don't need it. We have a lot of oil."

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-03-16T01:05:29.715Z


.....Indeed, the series of events seems preposterous. After spending the last year alienating U.S. allies, Trump launched an unnecessary war with no international legitimacy. He then prematurely declared victory, while simultaneously dismissing the need for international assistance, all while characterizing the Strait of Hormuz as a problem that’s already been solved.

It was at this point that the same American president, without explanation, turned on a dime and started demanding assistance from the same countries he’s insulted to address a problem he’s claimed doesn’t exist.

Foreign countries haven’t exactly rushed to answer Trump’s call for help, and Australian and Chinese officials have already rejected U.S. outreach. Imagine that.

Recommendations

4 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Please stroke out or step down (or both) putz... wcmagumba Monday #1
How Much Did they Ask? Roy Rolling Monday #2
So, the guy that has abused all of our allies.... DemMedic Monday #3
Places tariffs, threatens invasion, now wants their help. Irish_Dem Monday #21
This message was self-deleted by its author DUMember24 Monday #4
Action Reaction Whip-poor-will Monday #5
Guess what Diaper Don? China is a dictatorship, and a large % of the population grew up in a time where AZJonnie Monday #6
"and they'll find other places to buy the oil" BumRushDaShow Monday #8
China's extensive electrification can help them ride this out better than the US IronLionZion Monday #15
Yes. Oil is fungible. When others have to get their oil from where we get it, it will impact us just the same. (n/t) thesquanderer Monday #39
Kind of a difference between 'asking' and 'I'm demanding'. sinkingfeeling Monday #7
There is a huge difference between acting and demanding MLWR Monday #9
Great leaders gather their allies BEFORE they start a World War, you fucking imbecile. ms liberty Monday #10
What these countries should do is cancel all Trump and Kushner contracts for luxury resorts unless Trump stops the war. Lonestarblue Monday #11
Everyone is too afraid of Trump to stand up to him. Irish_Dem Monday #22
then it will be 10 countries, then it will be many countries... Javaman Monday #12
And.... rizlaplus Monday #13
That's a deep cut Prairie Gates Monday #35
I am just wondering when Iran will target all Trump named Dan Monday #14
This. What made them think their international properties are safe? travelingthrulife Monday #31
"Hey guys, I just whacked this hornet's nest as hard as I could" truthisfreedom Monday #16
Trump has named some of the countries this morning! Ray Bruns Monday #17
And Slutkovia, Melaaaaaaniaaaaaah's home country. twodogsbarking Monday #23
The War in the Stepstones is not going well Prairie Gates Monday #34
While it's true I'm not a crack military strategist, wouldn't this be done BEFORE a war????? Vinca Monday #18
As with ALL things drumpf, follow the money JoseBalow Monday #19
Well, so far he cancelled Putin's sanctions so he could sell more oil. travelingthrulife Monday #32
Trump told NATO to go to Hell... NOW he is begging for their help. Multichromatic Monday #20
After the Way Trump has treated them MissouriDem47 Monday #24
He's "demanding"? tonekat Monday #25
;-{)....... Goonch Monday #26
Isn't China gypsy11 Monday #27
I read that also. OGBuzz Monday #30
Thank you gypsy11 Monday #37
I couldn't agree more. This is all on Netanyahu and Trump, OGBuzz Monday #40
And did they all tell him to fuck right off? Ocelot II Monday #28
He starts the fire then asks others to help him put it out. n/t OnlinePoker Monday #29
Iran is giving Chinese ships the red carpet treatment through the Strait Prairie Gates Monday #33
Notice the one country he didn't ask? Israel Bluetus Monday #36
MaddowBlog-After alienating allies and declaring victory, Trump 'demands' foreign help in war LetMyPeopleVote Monday #38
What's the Over/Under of Trump's modrepub Monday #41
Hey, stupid, yes, you trump. republianmushroom Monday #42
Trump messed himself again. maliaSmith Monday #43
Europe has no need EX500rider Monday #44
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