Egypt Daily News – A tense NATO summit in The Hague took an unexpected detour into the surreal Wednesday when NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte jokingly referred to U.S. President Donald Trump as “Daddy”, a moment that lit up the press room and prompted visible amusement from senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The comment came during a bilateral meeting between Trump and Rutte, where they discussed the fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Trump, who had earlier used harsh language to criticize both countries for violating the truce, likened their conflict to two schoolyard children fighting.
“They fight like hell, you can’t stop them,” Trump said. “Let them go for two or three minutes, then it’s easier to stop them.” Rutte, picking up on the metaphor, added with a smile: “Daddy has to sometimes use strong language.”
The off-the-cuff remark triggered laughter, and Trump seemed pleased. “I think he likes me. ‘Daddy, you’re my daddy,’” Trump said later during a press conference, grinning as reporters and Rubio broke into laughter. “He did it very affectionately though.”
While lighthearted on the surface, the exchange reflected deeper dynamics at play within the alliance. Rutte, a seasoned Dutch politician now serving as NATO’s top diplomat, has taken a pragmatic approach to managing relations with the U.S. president, blending flattery with diplomacy to keep Trump engaged with the transatlantic alliance.
Behind the levity was serious business. During their meetings, NATO member states agreed to a landmark pledge to increase defense spending, committing to invest 5 percent of GDP annually on core defense requirements and security-related expenses by 2035 — more than double the previous 2 percent benchmark. The agreement marked a major victory for Trump, who has long criticized European allies for underinvesting in their own defense.
“This is a big day for NATO,” Trump said. “I think they’ll remember this day.” Asked whether European allies could defend themselves without U.S. support, Trump said they would “need a little help at the beginning,” but believed they would eventually be able to stand on their own.
When pressed again by a reporter about whether NATO’s progress was possible without his leadership, Trump deferred with a smile: “Well, ask Mark. I think you have to ask Mark.”
The exchange highlighted Trump’s continued insistence on being recognized as the dominant force within NATO, and Rutte’s calculated willingness to offer that recognition publicly. In his own press conference, Rutte downplayed the implications of the “daddy” remark, calling it “a matter of taste” while affirming that Trump deserved credit for moving the alliance toward stronger commitments.
Still, not everyone was amused. Several European officials reportedly expressed discomfort behind closed doors, suggesting the public praise of Trump bordered on sycophancy. “People are so embarrassed,” said one European official anonymously. “Yes, the summit was a success on the whole. But the sucking up was pretty over the top.”
Despite the awkward moments and unusual language, the summit ended with a unified commitment to increased military readiness and a shared acknowledgment of the U.S. role in driving NATO’s renewed focus. Whether that unity holds as the ceasefire between Iran and Israel remains fragile and as Trump’s influence on the world stage continues to draw mixed reactions remains to be seen.
