NATO Chief Mark Rutte Faces Embarrassment Over Flattery Toward Trump
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has sparked embarrassment among some EU officials by openly flattering US President Donald Trump during a summit in The Hague. During the event, Rutte referred to Trump as ‘daddy’ after the president made controversial remarks about Israel and Iran, drawing criticism for the perceived over-the-top praise.
Some EU officials are unhappy with Rutte’s use of flattery to win over Trump, Politico has reported. During the bloc’s summit in The Hague on Wednesday, Trump was asked to comment on his use of obscene language with regard to Israel and Iran. Before departing for the Netherlands, the president blasted the two countries for breaching the US-brokered ceasefire, saying they ‘have been fighting so long and so hard that they do not know what the f**k they are doing.’
Trump replied by comparing West Jerusalem and Tehran to ‘kids [fighting] in a schoolyard,’ while Rutte, who was seated beside him, added: ‘And then daddy has to, sometimes, use strong language.’
Before the summit, the US president also shared some of the private messages sent to him by the NATO chief, in which Rutte assured Trump that he was ‘flying into another big success’ at The Hague and said that achieving a truce between Israel and Iran was ‘truly extraordinary, and something no one else dared to do.’
In its article on Wednesday, Politico said some Western European officials ‘grumbled’ over Rutte ‘leaning heavily into public and private flattery’ towards Trump. ‘People are so embarrassed. Yes, the summit was a success on the whole. But the sucking up was pretty over the top,’ an unnamed official told the outlet.
Asked later by journalists if he thought he was overdoing it by flattering Trump, Rutte said: ‘No, I do not think so. I think it is a bit of a question of taste.’
He added that the US president deserves ‘all the praise’ for his ‘decisive action’ on Iran, and for persuading NATO members to agree to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 at the summit.
Trump told reporters: ‘I think he likes me. ‘Daddy, you’re my daddy.’ He did it very affectionately.’
The incident has highlighted the delicate balance between maintaining diplomatic relations and avoiding perceptions of undue favoritism. While Rutte’s flattery was intended to secure support for Trump’s policies, it has inadvertently caused discomfort among European allies, raising questions about the appropriate level of public praise for a foreign leader.
Political analysts have suggested that such public displays of affinity could be seen as a strategic move to bolster Trump’s influence within NATO, but the reaction from EU officials indicates that the line between diplomacy and personal admiration may be thin. The comments also underscore the complex dynamics within NATO, where differing political priorities and alliances must be navigated carefully.
As the summit wraps up, the incident serves as a reminder of the challenges in maintaining respectful and effective international cooperation. While the summit achieved some key outcomes, including the agreement to increase defense spending, the manner in which these goals were pursued has sparked internal debate and public scrutiny. The incident underscores the importance of diplomatic decorum in international relations and the potential consequences of overstepping in such contexts.