• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
People seriously confused by Trump’s response to being called ‘daddy’ by NATO chief day after leaking private texts between them

Home> News> Politics

Published 13:52 26 Jun 2025 GMT+1

People seriously confused by Trump’s response to being called ‘daddy’ by NATO chief day after leaking private texts between them

Donald Trump has responded to the bizarre nickname he was given by NATO boss Mark Rutte - and people are still baffled

Madison Burgess

Madison Burgess

This year's NATO summit shaped up to be a pretty eventful one as boss Mark Rutte went viral for calling Donald Trump 'daddy', with Trump now giving his two cents on the comment.

If you’re not in the loop, the odd relationship between the Dutch NATO boss, 58, and the American president, 79, has been thrust into the spotlight in the last few days.

The viral discourse began when the pair sat down together to speak to reporters at the latest summit in The Hague.

Advert

While talking about the conflict between Iran and Israel, who have now entered a ceasefire, the Republican leader compared the countries to bickering children.

Trump said: “They fight like two kids in a schoolyard, you know, they fight like hell - you can’t stop them. Let them fight for about two or three minutes then it’s easier to stop them.”

And if that wasn’t strange enough, Rutte then added to the weird conversation by saying: "And then daddy has to sometimes use strong language to get (them to) stop.”

The American president has responded to being called 'daddy' by NATO boss Mark Rutte (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The American president has responded to being called 'daddy' by NATO boss Mark Rutte (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Advert

Seemingly taken aback by his bizarre new nickname, Trump laughed: “Strong language, every now and then you have to use a certain word”.

And now, in another press conference broadcast live by CNN, the world leader has publicly given his thoughts on the new ‘daddy’ moniker.

Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes asked the president: “Mark Rutte, the NATO chief who is your friend, he called you daddy earlier. Do you regard your NATO allies as children?”

Trump smiled as he replied: “No, he likes me. I think he likes me.”

Advert

He pondered for a moment before joking: “If he doesn’t I’ll let you know, I’ll come back and I’ll hit him hard, okay.”

Trump then concluded the offbeat response by adding: “He did it very affectionately, daddy, you're my daddy.”

Watch for yourself here:

Social media users on Twitter have reacted to the ‘bizarre moment’ and questioned: "What is this weird s***??"

One person wrote: “It’s weird that the NATO chief called Trump Daddy but I guess it’s nice that he finally acknowledged it.”

Advert

And a second questioned: “Has the NATO countries lost their self-respect, or is there something going on behind the scenes?”

Meanwhile, a third unhappy social media user added: “The NATO chief called Trump “daddy” and Trump took it as a compliment. We’re not in a strategy meeting anymore, we’re in a bad improv scene. If this is how alliances work now, someone please cue the exit music.”

Referring to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s reaction, which could be seen in the background, another person penned: “Rubio is so embarrassed”.

Just one day before the whole ‘daddy’ moment occurred, on Tuesday (24 June) Trump leaked a lengthy and gushing text message he’d received from Rutte after the summit, which NATO has since confirmed to be real.

Advert

He responded to a question from a journalist who directly asked about the bizarre nickname (Sky News Australia)
He responded to a question from a journalist who directly asked about the bizarre nickname (Sky News Australia)

The text read: “Mr President, dear Donald. Congratulations and thank you for your decisive action in Iran, that was truly extraordinary, and something no one else dared to do. It makes us all safer.

“You are flying into another big success in The Hague this evening. It was not easy but we’ve got them all signed onto 5 percent!”

It continued: “Donald, you have driven us to a really, really important moment for America and Europe, and the world. You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done.

“Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win”.

He then simply signs off the message with: “Safe travels and see you at His Majesty’s dinner!"

Featured Image Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, World News, Social Media, US News

Madison Burgess
Madison Burgess

Madison is a Journalist at Tyla with a keen interest in lifestyle, entertainment and culture. She graduated from the University of Sheffield with a first-class degree in Journalism Studies, and has previously written for DMG Media as a Showbiz Reporter and Audience Writer.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

17 mins ago
an hour ago
  • 17 mins ago

    Everything Trump has changed in the White House as his latest portrait swap causes outrage

    The Republican hasn't been shy in making some major amendments to the layout of the White House following his inauguration in January

    News
  • an hour ago

    Kate Middleton made rare labour admission after revealing extremely difficult pregnancy

    The Princess of Wales shares three children - Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven - with husband William

    News
  • an hour ago

    Princess Anne gave brutal warning to Prince William and Harry in rare interview

    The Princess Royal once spoke out about the royal family's 'younger generations'

    News
  • an hour ago

    Meghan Markle reduced to tears after palace issued statement about Prince William’s bullying claims

    Prince Harry spoke about the effect the statement had on Meghan

    News
  • People seriously divided after Donald Trump called ‘daddy’ by NATO chief during conference
  • Donald Trump ‘takes a little walk’ on White House roof and people are seriously confused
  • Donald Trump’s leaked texts from NATO chief that included concerning threat leaves people asking same question
  • Donald Trump leaks private texts with NATO chief and people spot very alarming threat directed at Europe