Nato Chief Mark Rutte Finally Explains Why He Called Trump 'Daddy'

Mark Rutte has finally explained why he controversially described Donald Trump as “daddy” during a toe-curling joint appearance last year.

Nato’s secretary-general went viral when he used the bizarre term of endearment for the US president in June.

Trump at the time told reporters that warring nations Israel and Iran were like “two kids in a schoolyard”, fighting.

Rutte, who consistently turns the charm offensive on for Trump to try to dissuade him from leaving Nato, replied at the time: “Daddy has to use tough language.”

During an appearance at the Ronald Reagan Institute on Thursday, Rutte was asked by a reporter if he still thought of Trump as “daddy” even as the president continues to accuse Nato of not supporting the US in its war against Iran.

The Dutch politician immediately said the “daddy” drama stemmed from a “language problem”, adding: “It follows me a little bit, I can assure you.”

He continued: “In Dutch, you would say – the translation of your father is daddy – and I said, ‘sometimes daddy has to be angry’.

“So I was not calling him my daddy.

“But of course, daddy has all sorts of special connotations, and now I have to live with it for the rest of my life.”

He laughed, adding: “And I own it. And the president owns it. He brought out t-shirts, he made a movie, ‘Daddy is home’, when he returned to the United States. This is why I like him so much.

“You make mistakes, and this is when you are not a native speaker – sorry for that.”

The secretary general had a private conversation with Trump in the White House on Wednesday evening.

While it’s not known what they discussed, the president accused Nato of not being “there when we needed them” on TruthSocial.

But Rutte has played down speculation that he had a falling out with Trump.

He insisted that they had an “open conversation” between friends, but that Trump was “clearly disappointed” at the lack of support from allies.