Eddie Izzard, my favorite comedian, has a bit about the pilgrims having to ask the local indigenous groups for help after mocking them for not wearing clothing. It is a funny joke, but the lesson here — perhaps don’t try to make an enemy of someone whose help you may need later on — is not one Donald Trump has ever learned.

Before the second United States invasion of Iraq, George Bush spent months informing the public about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein and gathering military partners, so as not to take unilateral action in the region. Of course, we later learned the justifications for this war ranged from exaggerations to flat out lies, but Bush and his team at least recognized the disaster that would be invading a country in the Middle East with no military allies or buy-in from the American public.

Donald Trump has launched yet another American war in the Middle East with no attempt whatsoever to sell it to the American public and after years of repeatedly bashing and humiliating our allies.

Now he is begging them for help.

For his entire political career, Donald Trump has attacked NATO far more viciously than he has ever attacked any adversary. We recently learned that Denmark deployed troops to Greenland with plans to destroy runways there in the event of invasion by the United States.

Because America put Donald Trump back in office, our military allies had to plan TO BE INVADED BY THE UNITED STATES.

We now want Denmark’s help preventing Iran from attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. They said no.

Trump has repeatedly referred to the prime minister of Canada as “governor,” expressing his desire for the United States to annex Canada which does not want to be part of the United States.

We now want Canada’s help preventing Iran from attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. They said no.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Spain would be cooperating with the US military in its war with Iran. She lied. Spain did no such thing.

They said no.

Trump’s alienation of our allies is not limited to NATO. He has openly attacked the European Union and started an unnecessary trade war with his illegal tariffs.

We now want the EU’s help preventing Iran from attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. They said no.

In fact the European Union is not allowing US aircraft to fly over EU airspace on their bombing runs. They are flying around the continent now.

While they do not have the naval capability to assist with the Strait, after belittling Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the futility of his defensive war against Russia, the United States is now asking Ukraine for assistance in how to counter the ultra low cost drones Iran is now attacking its opponents with.

But this week we saw a more personal and more egregious attack on an ally, in the very meeting where we were asking them for assistance.

While speaking to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office, Donald Trump was asked why he did not inform Japan or our other allies about the war he started.

Trump responded that he wanted it to be a surprise. Trump has a long childlike obsession with surprise attacks. He added the following:

Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?

I do not know the reporter he addressed this to, but I will guess that the primary reason he did not tell Donald Trump about the attack on Pearl Harbor is that neither he nor Donald Trump was alive when it happened.

Prime Minister Takaichi tried to maintain composure but was visibly appalled by the president’s comments.

(The photo does not fully capture her reaction which you can watch here.)

Needless to say, Japan did not commit to helping our war effort.

The president is once again threatening to leave NATO, which would be a massive boon for Russia. He has called into question the point of the alliance if they won’t assist in a war America started. He does not understand that NATO is a DEFENSIVE alliance. Members are under no obligation to join a war STARTED by a member state. In fact, NATO has only ever once taken military action in defense of an attacked member, the United States of America after 9/11. Ironically Trump has accused NATO of not being there if the US needed them. He also said the fighting NATO members did during the war in Afghanistan didn’t involve front line combat. This is a lie he had to walk back as other nations were incensed over the disrespect to their soldiers who lost their lives in defense of the United States.

Trump has waffled on this very topic multiple times now, both saying we do not need outside help while requesting said outside help. This week he said both that other countries had agreed to send ships to the Strait while simultaneously requesting that they do so - in the same post.

Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe…. Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated.

Trump on Truth Social - 3/14/26

The United States president has spent a decade berating, humiliating, and attacking every American ally on the planet. And now he is demanding their help in war he chose to start against the advice of those allies. He has never been capable of understanding allyship, mutual aid, or any exchanges that are not transactional.

The entire world is now facing the consequences of his ignorance and arrogance.