NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has explained his viral “Daddy” nickname for President Trump, highlighting the president’s assertive role in securing a Middle East ceasefire.

Rutte Praises Trump’s Leadership During NATO Summit

At the recent NATO summit in the Netherlands, an unexpected nickname was attached to President Donald Trump. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called Trump “Daddy,” a moment that quickly drew global attention and sparked a wave of commentary across social media.

Rutte explained the origins of the moniker in a televised interview, recounting how it arose amid tense moments during ongoing Middle East peace negotiations. “Before President Trump went on the plane, the Israelis and Iranians had committed to a ceasefire,” Rutte said. “Then that morning before he boarded that plane, they said, well, we might get at each other's throats again.”

Frustrated by the volatility threatening the fragile truce, President Trump issued pointed remarks to both nations before departing for Europe. “We basically have two countries that have been fighting for so long and so hard that they don't know what the f--- they're doing,” Trump told reporters, underscoring his disappointment with both Israel and Iran for risking renewed conflict.

The White House revealed that Trump had spoken directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier that day to address the ceasefire’s instability. Later, during the summit, Trump compared the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran to children fighting on a playground—a comment that set the stage for Rutte’s now-famous interjection: “Then Daddy has to sometimes use strong language.”

Ceasefire Holds Amid Praise for Direct Diplomacy

Since the NATO summit, the U.S.-brokered ceasefire has continued to hold. On his social media platform, Truth Social, President Trump announced that Israel had agreed to a U.S.-led 60-day ceasefire in Gaza—a diplomatic move that could pave the way for broader peace across the region.

Rutte defended President Trump’s forceful approach, noting that history had placed him in a position to draw a decisive line and demand accountability. “History made you, President Trump, the leader of the U.S., the leader of the free world, to then basically say, ‘Here’s the red line. I don’t accept it,’” Rutte commented, emphasizing the significance of leadership during high-stakes negotiations.

The nickname “Daddy” quickly caught on among White House staff, who compiled a social media montage featuring the president set to the Usher song “Daddy’s Home.” Rutte said he found the video humorous, remarking, “I was really taken by the after-movie the White House brought out. It was really funny.”

The episode highlights President Trump’s pivotal role in maintaining the ceasefire and demonstrates how candid, assertive leadership can have an impact even in the most complex diplomatic situations. As the ceasefire remains intact, international leaders and observers continue to watch closely for signs of lasting progress in Middle East peace efforts.