U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s remarks that “NATO calls me daddy” following recent alliance developments have sparked shock, incredulity, and heated debate across global media and diplomatic circles. In a recent interview, the U.S. leader credited NATO’s decision this year to ramp up members’ defence-spending commitments a key item on his agenda — as evidence of his influence over the alliance.
Trump argued he has no intention of “running Europe,” saying instead that his role has been about ensuring fairer burden-sharing. “I want to run the United States. I don’t want to run Europe,” he said.
At the centre of the controversy is an exchange at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, where NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte jokingly referred to Trump as “daddy” while defending the U.S. president’s forceful intervention in an Israel–Iran ceasefire dispute calling him the one capable of “using strong language” when needed.
Asked afterward whether he perceived his NATO allies as “children,” Trump brushed off the suggestion in a light-hearted tone, saying the term had been used “very affectionately.” He added, “If he doesn’t (like me), I’ll let you know. I’ll come back, and I’ll hit him hard.
The nickname and the rhetoric come at a moment when NATO members agreed under significant U.S. pressure to raise defence spending from roughly 2% of GDP toward a target of 5%. The deal, which Trump hailed as a “big win,” has been cited by the president as evidence that his tough posture and impatience with burden-shifting has finally forced compliance from longtime allies.
Yet the comments have stirred concern and sharp criticism among European leaders and within international security circles. Many view the “daddy” metaphor as demeaning to the alliance’s commitment to egalitarian cooperation and mutual respect principles that undergird the collective-defense framework. Some observers argue the comment reflects deeper shifts in how the United States under Trump views alliances: as transactional relationships rather than partnerships rooted in shared values.
Beyond the symbolic rupture, there are real-world implications: the tone reinforces perceptions that transatlantic ties are being renegotiated under U.S. dominance — raising questions about the future cohesion and unity of NATO, especially as Europe faces multiple security challenges.
As reaction pours in from capitals and parliaments around the world, what remains clear is that Trump’s “daddy” moment may end up symbolising not just personal bravado — but a possible turning point in the post-World War II Western security order.