NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte publicly referred to President Donald Trump as “daddy” during a press conference Wednesday at the alliance’s summit in The Hague, following Trump’s unfiltered remarks about the Iran–Israel ceasefire.
Rutte made the remark while applauding Trump’s decisive tone in the heated debate over Middle East tensions. Trump had earlier likened the Israel–Iran clash to “two kids in a schoolyard” and used strong language on live TV, saying:
“They don’t know what the f**k they’re doing.”
In response, Rutte quipped:
“Daddy has to sometimes use strong language.”
Rutte’s comment highlighted a moment of theatrical camaraderie between NATO and the U.S. leader. He also credited Trump’s leadership with helping persuade NATO members to raise their defense spending to 5% of GDP, with 3.5% earmarked for core military needs.
The off‑the‑cuff exchange reflected the unusual tone of this year’s summit, which has alternated between tense policy discussions and surprising public moments.
