World leader just called Trump ‘daddy’, and we’re so, so sorry you had to read this

At the NATO summit in The Hague on June 25, 2025, NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte leaned into the cringiest compliment ever.

In response to Donald Trump’s F-Bomb drop over Israel and Iran, Rutte mused, “Daddy has to sometimes use strong language.” The leader of the world’s most powerful military alliance called Trump “daddy.” Um, Gross.

Why “daddy”? Why now?

Rutte’s nickname follows Trump’s F‑bomb-laden swipe on June 24, when he told reporters that “they don’t know what the f— they’re doing,” referring to both Israel and Iran during a ceasefire standoff.

At the NATO summit, Trump bragged about the U.S. bombing Iranian nuclear sites, doubling down at the conference, insisting those sites were “obliterated” and comparing the impact to ending World War II.

Obliterated? Not so much

But back in D.C., U.S. intelligence, described as “preliminary” and of “low confidence,” said the strikes may have only delayed Iran’s program by months. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shot that down, claiming the assessment was underestimating the damage, now “buried under a mountain” of rubble. Meanwhile, French President Macron said France would conduct an independent damage analysis.

Meanwhile, NATO leaders, under Trump’s prodding, agreed to dramatically boost defense budgets, eyeing a new target of 5 percent of member GDP by 2035. The alliance also reaffirmed mutual defense commitments, pushing past Trump’s earlier threats to withhold U.S. support.

Rutte and Trump: frenemies, now more than ever

As for Rutte and Trump, the two have a bizarre bromance backstory. In 2018, Rutte famously interrupted Trump during a NATO meeting to shout, “No! Let’s be honest!” But now he’s praising Trump for his “decisive, very targeted” Iran strike, reportedly even sending congratulatory private texts calling it “truly extraordinary.”

Rutte defended the praise as “appropriate,” saying, “He is a good friend”—and insisted it wasn’t demeaning, just a matter of taste.

It’s the sort of weird diplomatic acrobatics that makes your head spin: public ribbing, private flattery, price‑hikes in defense, and middle fingers at ceasefires.

Broader implications

By calling Trump “daddy,” the NATO chief could have signaled he’s playing Trump’s game in a language he understands. That probably helped secure budget commitments and maintain U.S. buy-in. But calling a U.S. president “daddy” during a major summit is the kind of stunt that might well be clever strategy—or a colossal humiliation. Effective? That’s debatable. Embarrassing? You tell me.