NATO Secretary General Raises Eyebrows Referring To Trump As ‘Daddy’ During Press Conference

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte referred to President Donald Trump as “daddy” in a press conference earlier this week following the president’s trip to the two-day NATO summit in the Netherlands.

In a bilateral conference with Trump, Rutte addressed Trump’s claim that Israel and Iran “don’t know what the f— they’re doing” after the two countries violated the terms of a ceasefire, which later seemed to be holding.

“Daddy has to sometimes use strong language,” said Rutte regarding Trump’s comment.

Rutte later clarified his use of the term, stating that he used the word to refer to how allies perceive the U.S.

“The daddy thing, I didn’t call him ‘daddy,’” said Rutte. “What I said is that sometimes, in Europe, I hear countries sometimes saying, ‘Hey, Mark, will the U.S. stay with us?’ And I said that sounds a little bit like a small child asking his daddy, ‘Hey, are you still staying with the family?’ So in that sense, I used ‘daddy’ — not that I was calling President Trump daddy.”

Trump joked about the comment in a later press conference.

“He did it very affectionately, though, ‘Daddy, you’re my daddy,’” said Trump.

The White House has seemed to embrace the title for the president, posting a video to social media set to the song “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)” by Usher.

“Daddy’s home… Hey, hey, hey, Daddy,” read the caption of the video.

Rutte was also asked if other members of NATO were like children who needed to grow up after the secretary general pledged to spend more on defense operations.

Rutte said the other countries “already have grown up” but sought to “equalize” defense spending with the U.S.

The secretary general praised Trump’s decision to launch airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

“The signal it sends to the rest of the world that this president, when it comes to it, yes, he is a man of peace, but if necessary, he is willing to use strength,” said Rutte.