Trump open to NATO troop cuts, backs journalist access to Gaza
3 Min Read
President Donald Trump signaled openness to reducing US troops in Europe to encourage a Russia-Ukraine peace deal and voiced support for granting journalists access to Gaza amid ongoing restrictions.
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President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano listens during an event in the Oval Office to mark the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
US President Donald Trump said Thursday he may be open to reducing the American troop presence in Europe as part of an effort to encourage Russia toward a peace agreement with Ukraine, though he emphasized that no such plan has yet been formally presented to him.
"That hasn't been put before me, and I'll think about that for later," he told reporters when asked about the possibility of cutting NATO troop levels to advance negotiations. "I think that President Putin would like to see a deal," Trump added, referring to ending the Ukraine conflict.
The remarks come ahead of a planned summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where Ukraine's future is expected to be a central topic. European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have insisted that Kiev must be directly involved in any settlement process. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected any peace agreement involving territorial concessions, while European states are forming a "coalition of the willing" to guarantee Ukraine's post-war security and have committed significant new military aid, including Germany's $500 million package for air defense systems.
Trump's willingness to consider scaling back US forces in Europe fits a broader trend of pressuring NATO allies to increase their own defense spending and operational capacity. Analysts warn that a substantial drawdown would mark a major shift in America's post-Cold War security posture and could reshape the balance of leverage in negotiations with Moscow.
Read more: Trump warns Russia of consequences if no Ukraine deal reached
Gaza press access
In a separate exchange with reporters, Trump expressed support for allowing journalists into the Gaza Strip to report on ongoing US humanitarian operations. "I would like to see it happen. I would be very fine with journalists going in. It's a very dangerous position to be in," he said when asked whether he would press "Israel" to grant media access.
Foreign journalists have largely been barred from Gaza unless embedded with the Israeli military, a policy criticized by press freedom organizations for limiting independent coverage of the war and humanitarian crisis.
More than 200 journalists have been killed since the start of "Israel's" assault on Gaza, prompting renewed calls from global media outlets for unrestricted access to the enclave.
Read more: Anas al-Sharif, journalists targeted, killed by Israeli strike
