Rutte's ‘Sycophantic’ Slip at NATO Summit Sparks Online Outrage
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sparked widespread criticism after referring to US President Donald Trump as “daddy” during a press conference at the NATO Summit in The Hague on June 25, 2025, while praising US strikes against Iran.
The comment, made during a press conference in The Hague, endorsed Trump's aggressive stance against Iran. It drew sharp criticism for undermining NATO's credibility.
Rutte's fawning words came as Trump likened the Iran-Israel conflict to a "schoolyard brawl. “They’ve had a big fight, like two kids in a schoolyard," Trump said. “You know, they fight like hell, you can’t stop them."
He added, "Let them fight for about 2-3 minutes, then it’s easy to stop them."
Rutte, laughing, interjected, "And then daddy has to sometimes use strong language to get (them to) stop.”
The remark, meant to praise Trump's role in a supposed ceasefire, revealed Rutte's spineless deference.
Trump, basking in the flattery, responded, "He likes me, I think he likes me." He added, "If he doesn’t, I’ll let you know and I’ll hit him hard, OK?"
Rutte later backtracked, claiming, "So in that sense, I use daddy, not that I was calling President Trump daddy."
He defended his praise, calling Trump a "good friend" who deserved recognition.
Such clarifications failed to quell the backlash.
Online users condemned Rutte's servility and Trump's belligerence.
Trump's authorization of Operation Midnight Hammer, airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, was labeled imperialist aggression.
Iran's nuclear program, Trump claimed, was "buried under granite, concrete, and steel." Yet, Pentagon leaks suggest the strikes merely delayed Iran's capabilities.
Rutte's anti-Iran rhetoric, aligning with Trump's hostility, drew scorn. His endorsement of US strikes and NATO's reliance on American might exposed his bias.
Social media erupted, branding Rutte a "NATO Golddigger" and mocking his humiliating sycophancy.
European officials criticized the remark as a stain on NATO's impartiality.
Rutte's groveling reflects NATO's desperation to appease a volatile US leader. His push for allies to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 echoed Trump's demands.
Anti-war sentiments on X decried NATO as a tool of US imperialism. Rutte's shameful display at the summit laid bare NATO's servitude to US interests.
His anti-Iran stance and fawning over Trump betrayed the alliance’s supposed unity.
As pro-Iranian voices on X amplified calls for sovereignty, Rutte’s gaffe cemented his image as a puppet.
The episode, drowning out talks on Ukraine, exposed the West’s hypocrisy and imperialist agenda.
