Name: Trump: I doubt NATO would be there for us if we really needed them
Uploaded: 2026-01-07T18:29:05.694Z
Duration: 1 min 50 s
Description: CNBC’s Eamon Javers reports on the latest news surrounding President Trump’s social media posts.

CNBC’s Eamon Javers reports on the latest news surrounding President Trump’s social media posts.

President Trump posted on social media expressing skepticism about NATO's willingness to support the United States in a crisis, emphasizing that Russia and China have little fear of the alliance without U.S. involvement. He also reaffirmed his commitment to NATO despite his doubts and highlighted the military buildup during his administration.

Separately, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced ongoing U.S. enforcement of a blockade against vessels transporting Venezuelan oil illegally. Media reports indicate the U.S. has seized an oil tanker in the North Atlantic, allegedly reflagged as Russian, though official confirmation from the White House is pending.

Trump: I doubt NATO would be there for us if we really needed them

Hey there, Carl. Two social media posts from the administration to bring you up to speed on here as we watch these shifting tectonic plates of geopolitics. The first one from the president of the United States, sharply critical now of the NATO Western Military Alliance. The president saying on social media a short time ago, Russia and China have zero fear of NATO without the United States, and I doubt NATO would be there for us if we really needed them. Russia is lucky that I rebuilt our military in my first term and continue to do so. We will always be there for NATO, even if they won't be there for us. The only nation that China and Russia fear and respect is the great D.J.T., Rebuilt USA, Make America Great Again. That coming from the president of the United States, in apparent response to criticism from some that he is seeing about the White House's statement yesterday suggesting that the U.S. may use military force to try to take over Greenland. Also, another separate issue, the issue of Venezuelan oil. The secretary of war, Pete Hegseth, taking to social media for a post there, he says, the United States continues to enforce the blockade against all dark fleet vessels illegally transporting Venezuelan oil to finance illicit activity, stealing from the Venezuelan people. Only legitimate and lawful energy commerce, as determined by the United States, will be permitted. So that post on social media coming, as there are multiple media reports now, unconfirmed by the White House, that the United States has seized an additional oil tanker in the North Atlantic. That oil tanker was apparently reflagged as a Russian vessel. Multiple media reports now that the U.S. has now seized that vessel in the North Atlantic. We will wait for the White House to confirm that. We're expecting a press briefing here coming up at the top of the hour, guys. Back over to you.

President Trump weighed in on the deadly shooting involving an ICE officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday. CBS News' Willie James Inman reports.

Minneapolis

Trump claims woman shot by ICE in Minneapolis was “very disorderly”

President Trump plans to meet with Colombian President Gustavo Petro after Mr. Trump issued threats following the U.S. operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro. CBS News' Lilia Luciano reports from Bogotá.

Washington

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The United Kingdom aided the U.S. in an operation to seize a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the North Atlantic. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports.

UK helped the U.S. seize an oil tanker linked to Venezuela

U.S. forces on Wednesday seized two oil tankers, one in the North Atlantic and the other in the Caribbean, as part of the Trump administration's blockade of Venezuela's oil exports. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. will take between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil and sell it in the marketplace.

U.S. to control money from Venezuela oil sales after tanker seizures

Nick Reiner was set to be arraigned on murder charges on Wednesday in the killing of his parents Rob and Michele Reiner. But his defense attorney, Alan Jackson, told the judge he could no longer represent the 32-year-old. After the hearing, Jackson said he couldn't say why he withdrew for legal reasons, but added, "Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder."

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Washington says it has intercepted two Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the Atlantic as part of President Trump’s hardline effort to control oil movements across the Americas, claiming the vessels were part of a so-called shadow fleet used to ship sanctioned crude from Venezuela and Iran.

UK helped U.S. military to seize sentenced oil tanker on way to Russia

Minneapolis erupts in protests after a woman is shot by a federal agent – Video of the incident sparks outrage nationwide.

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President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged security forces to show restraint, distinguishing peaceful protesters from armed rioters. However, rights group Iran Human Rights says at least 27 protesters have been killed, while Iranian media report 15 deaths, including members of the security forces.

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Iran's army chief threatened pre-emptive military action on Wednesday over the "rhetoric" targeting the country, thought to be in reference to threats made by US President Donald Trump last week, warning that if Tehran "violently kills peaceful protesters," Washington would "come to their rescue."

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U.S. forces have boarded a Venezuela-linked sanctioned oil tanker in the North Atlantic after pursuing it for weeks. The U.S. military also announced the seizure of a sanctioned tanker ship in the Caribbean Sea, the second vessel taken by American forces on Wednesday.

Venezuela Strikes

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President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday urged security forces to distinguish between what he called rioters and protesters, urging them not to target peaceful demonstrators.

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Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are reacting to the Trump administration's comments on a potential Greenland takeover from Denmark.

Nuuk

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London

Ukraine Invasion

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Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he would “take up arms” in the face of threats issued by US President Donald Trump.

Bogotá

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Jerusalem

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The White House says U.S. President Donald Trump and his team are considering a range of options in efforts to acquire Greenland as the ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro continues to reverberate in the Western Hemisphere.

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep concern over recent U.S. military action in Venezuela, calling for the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

Soweto

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At least 25 people have been killed in Iran during the first nine days of protests that started in the bazaar of Tehran over the plunging value of the currency and soaring inflation, according to rights groups. This video contains graphic images.

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The administration of President Donald Trump is planning to meet with executives from U.S. oil companies later this week to discuss boosting Venezuelan oil production after U.S. forces ousted its leader Nicolas Maduro, according to a source familiar with the matter.

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Uncertainty in Venezuela has crossed into neighboring Colombia, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Colombian President Gustavo Petro could face U.S. action following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

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Nicolas Maduro appeared in a US courtroom on January 5, 2026. He pleaded "Not Guilty" to drug trafficking and other charges, insisting he is still Venezuela's president. Maduro's kidnapping is being justified by the Trump administration as a "surgical law enforcement operation", but what proof is the case resting on?

Breakdown