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Trump was called "daddy" by NATO chief Mark Rutte at the 2025 summit, sparking laughter. Rutte later clarified it referred to the US role in NATO, not Trump personally.
US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sit, at the NATO leaders summit in The Hague, Netherlands. (Reuters Photo)
UPDATED: Jun 27, 2025 07:08 IST
US President Donald Trump received an unexpected nickname at the 2025 NATO Summit in the Netherlands that quickly became a viral moment. During a conversation about the United States' role in enforcing a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte referred to Trump as "daddy" while commenting on the president’s strong rhetoric.
Trump had sharply criticized both nations for violating the truce, saying they had been fighting "so long and so hard that they don't know what the fuck they're doing." In response, Rutte, standing beside Trump, joked, "And then daddy has to sometimes use strong language to get them to stop."
The remark sparked laughter among journalists and members of Trump’s team, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. During a press briefing, a Sky News reporter asked Trump whether he saw NATO allies as his children in light of the nickname. Smiling and clearly amused, Trump replied, "No, he likes me. I think he likes me. If he doesn't, I'll let you know. I'll come back and I'll hit him hard, OK?"
The White House quickly embraced the moment on social media, posting a video on X that featured footage of Trump at the summit set to Usher’s song “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” along with the caption, "Daddy’s home."
RUTTE CLARIFIES ‘DADDY’ REMARK
Following the summit, Rutte clarified his use of the term in an interview with Reuters. He explained that the nickname was not aimed at Trump personally, but rather referred to how some European countries view the United States within the NATO alliance.
"In Europe, I sometimes hear countries say, 'Hey Mark, will the US stay with us?' and I said that sounds a bit like a small child asking his daddy, 'Are you still staying with the family?'" he said. "In that sense, I used the word 'daddy.' I was not calling President Trump that."
When asked whether this analogy implied that other NATO members are like children who are only now maturing, Rutte responded that they have already grown up but now recognize the need to take on greater responsibility. He added that many are working to match the United States in defense spending, as part of efforts to strengthen the alliance.
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Published By:
Aashish Vashistha
Published On:
Jun 27, 2025
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