The NATO Secretary General responded to Trump's dad remark: "I made that mistake, so I fully admit it now!"
On April 9, 2026, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, speaking at an event hosted by the Reagan Institute in Washington, D.C., was directly asked by a journalist—after Donald Trump repeatedly accused NATO of not helping—whether he still considered Trump his "dad." Rutte smiled and replied that it was merely a "language issue."
In the interview, Rutte admitted: "I made that mistake, so I now fully acknowledge it." He also mentioned that after Trump returned to the U.S., he produced a video titled "Dad Is Back," adding, "He even acknowledged it himself—that’s exactly why I like him, because of his sense of humor."
The "dad" joke originated on June 25, 2025. During the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Trump held a joint press conference with Rutte. Speaking about the conflict between Israel and Iran, Trump described the two countries as "two kids fighting in a schoolyard." Sitting beside him, Rutte chimed in: "Sometimes, the dad has to use tough words."
Upon uttering this line, global media erupted. The phrase "calling dad" surged to trending status. International outlets widely interpreted the incident as Europe pandering to Trump.
Rutte later denied multiple times having actually called Trump "dad." On June 25, 2025, he clarified that he had only used a metaphor. At the Munich Security Conference in February 2026, he attributed it to "poor English proficiency." By April 9, 2026, however, he changed his stance—directly admitting fault.
Calling someone "dad" might create temporary light-heartedness, but it cannot deliver structural security for NATO. Rutte has admitted his error—but the real challenges for NATO have only just begun.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869476884739072/
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