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LetMyPeopleVote

(181,220 posts)
38. MaddowBlog-After alienating allies and declaring victory, Trump 'demands' foreign help in war
Mon Mar 16, 2026, 10:52 AM
Mar 16

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