At the 2025 NATO Summit in the Netherlands, US President Donald Trump found himself at the center of a viral moment after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte jokingly referred to him as “daddy” during a press appearance. The nickname came up amid a tense discussion on enforcing a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, with Trump delivering a characteristically blunt assessment of both countries: “They’ve been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.”
Rutte, standing beside him, lightened the mood by quipping, “And then daddy has to sometimes use strong language to get them to stop.” The offhand remark triggered laughter among attendees, including members of Trump’s team like Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump appeared to enjoy the moment. When a Sky News reporter cheekily asked if he considered NATO allies his “children,” Trump smirked and responded, “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 capitalized on the moment, posting a tongue-in-cheek video on X (formerly Twitter) featuring Trump at the summit with Usher’s “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)” playing in the background, captioned simply: “Daddy’s home.”
In a follow-up interview with Reuters, Rutte clarified that the comment wasn’t aimed at Trump personally. Instead, he explained that it was an analogy drawn from how some European nations still look to the US for leadership: “It’s like a small child asking his daddy, ‘Are you still staying with the family?’” He emphasized that European nations are now taking more responsibility within NATO, especially in terms of defense spending.
While the “daddy” remark sparked headlines and memes, it also underscored a deeper dynamic at the summit: Trump’s desire to reinforce US authority within NATO, and Europe’s evolving role as it seeks to be seen as more than just a dependent ally.
