President Donald Trump wrapped up his attendance at the NATO summit with a lively press conference that featured a moment of levity.
The president was asked whether he regarded other world leaders and NATO allies as his “children,” pointing to a specific moment when NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called him “Daddy.”
Though Trump seemed to keep a straight face as the Sky News reporter presented her question, his breaking smile was second to Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s reaction as he stood behind him.
.@POTUS reacts to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte calling him “Daddy”:
“I think he likes me…He did it very affectionately.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/c4Eha4pkVP
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 25, 2025
“Mark Rutte, the NATO Chief, he called you ‘daddy’ earlier…Do you regard your NATO allies as children?” the reporter asked Trump during Wednesday’s press conference at the NATO summit.
“No, he likes me. I think he likes me,” Trump said to laughter, and as Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laughed behind him. “He did it very affectionately. Daddy, you’re my daddy.”
Rutte’s comment had come as Trump dished on using profanity when he spoke of Iran and Israel acting like children hours after a recently brokered ceasefire.
“They’ve had a big fight, like two kids in a school yard. They fight like hell, you can’t stop them. Let them fight for about two, three minutes, then it’s easier to stop them,” Trump said as he and Rutte greeted each other before meetings.
“Daddy has to sometimes use strong language,” the NATO chief quipped.
NEW: Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte refers to President Trump as ‘Daddy’ while Trump was talking about Israel & Iran’s peace deal.
Trump: They had a big fight. Like two kids in a schoolyard. Let them fight for about two minutes. Then it’s easier to stop them.
Rutte: And… pic.twitter.com/dpG7C7bakY
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 25, 2025
Rubio’s reaction to the reporter’s question during the press conference was a hit on X:
Marco dying in the background 🤣🤣
— Whale Psychiatrist ™️ (@k_ovfefe2) June 25, 2025
LMAO! Trump is the GOAT.
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) June 25, 2025
Rubio needed that. He’s been holding so much tension in his face, I get stressed out every time I see him lately. I’m glad he got a good laugh
— Kristy (Landers Niedenfuer) Violette (@KristyLanders) June 25, 2025
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Mr. @SecRubio doesn’t break character very often. This was quite funny to watch.
— Amanda H. (@SunnyInCali922) June 25, 2025
