pool report #3/Oval comments with Irish prime minister

The pool is in the Oval Office, where the president is meeting with the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin.

Trump repeats several times that the US doesnt need help with Iran from NATO.

"They have no Air Force, no navy... Their leaders are gone..."

"Despite the fact that we help them so much... they dont want to help us, which is amazing."

Said he didnt do a "full court press" with NATO re Iran

Nobody said you shouldn't do it.. Iran "would have had a nuclear bomb within a month" if not for B2 bombings months ago, leading to nuclear war that would have hit Europe.

"We don't need 'em (NATO) but they should have been there."

"Nobody wants to have Iran with a nuclear, because these people are crazy."

"Everyone agrees with us but they don't want to help."

Q re Macron saying he wont join a Strait of Hormuz task force

"He'll be out of office very soon so we'll see."

Lauds UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel

Called counterterrorism official who resigned in protest over Iran war a "very nice guy" but "he was very weak on security."

"It's a good thing that he's out. Iran is not a threat? ... Iran was a tremendous threat."

Q any repercussions for NATO and will still visit China?

Trump: "We're making it in 5 or 6 weeks" (China)

Re NATO repercussions:

US has spent trillions on NATO and helped with Ukraine yet "When they dont help us that's certainly something we should think about" and "i dont need Congress for that decision" but "I have nothing currently in mind."

Irish Open visit: said he hopes to go

Still going at 12:10.

--

Todd Gillman

Washington Bureau director

Cronkite News

[EMAIL ADDRESS]

m: XXX-XXX-XXXX