EU representatives ashamed by NATO director ‘sucking up’ to Trump
(MENAFN) Several EU officials are reportedly unsettled by what they view as excessive flattery from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte toward U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a report by Politico.
The issue gained attention during the NATO summit in The Hague on Wednesday, when Trump addressed his recent vulgar comments directed at Israel and Iran. The U.S. president had blamed both nations for violating a ceasefire, stating they had been fighting for so long they no longer knew “what the f**k they are doing.”
Responding to questions about the comment during a press conference, Trump compared the situation to schoolchildren brawling. Rutte, seated next to him, chimed in: “And then daddy has to, sometimes, use strong language.”
Trump later joked, “Daddy – you’re my daddy,” saying Rutte’s comment was meant affectionately.
Ahead of the summit, Trump also shared private messages from Rutte, in which the NATO chief praised him for his leadership and credited him with achieving the Israel-Iran ceasefire, calling it a rare diplomatic success.
According to Politico, some Western European officials expressed discomfort over Rutte’s approach, describing it as excessive. “People are so embarrassed. Yes, the summit was a success on the whole. But the sucking up was pretty over the top,” one unnamed diplomat reportedly said.
When asked whether his praise had gone too far, Rutte dismissed the criticism, saying it was a matter of taste. He emphasized that Trump deserved recognition for his bold moves regarding Iran and for rallying NATO members to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.
Trump, meanwhile, appeared amused by the exchange and reiterated his belief that Rutte “likes” him.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
