NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte offered an unusually personal show of support for President Trump on Tuesday, referring to him as “Daddy” after the president used blunt language to criticize both Israel and Iran for violating a recent ceasefire.
Speaking ahead of the NATO summit in the Netherlands, Trump had condemned the ongoing hostilities between the two nations, saying they’d been at war for so long they “don’t know what the f— they’re doing.” The remark drew attention, but Rutte downplayed the controversy, suggesting Trump’s tough rhetoric was sometimes necessary. “Daddy has to sometimes use strong language,” Rutte said when asked about the president’s choice of words.
Beyond defending Trump’s tone, Rutte praised the president for ordering strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites and for pressuring NATO member countries to increase defense spending. He acknowledged that Trump’s push for a 5 percent GDP defense contribution from allies had moved discussions forward and was close to being adopted, though not universally.
“We have to keep ourselves safe from our adversaries,” Rutte said, emphasizing the importance of fair burden-sharing across the alliance. He highlighted Trump’s consistent support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia and noted that the president’s demands had added urgency to broader NATO defense commitments.
Spain reportedly secured an exemption from the new 5 percent target after resistance to the increase. The final agreement saw allies pledging to raise spending above last year’s 2.7 percent level, according to reporting from Politico.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the summit, Trump struck a confident tone about NATO’s future, telling the press, “NATO is going to become very strong with us. We’re with them all the way.” His comments reinforced the message that under his leadership, the alliance would continue to evolve and strengthen its military posture.