The White House on Thursday joined the buzz around US President Donald Trump’s latest “Daddy” nickname, given by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the recent summit, sharing a minute-long video showing Trump’s interactions with Rutte and other leaders at the summit, set to the track Daddy’s Home by Usher.
The video, shared by the White House, playfully embraces the nickname, which emerged from an exchange between Trump and Rutte.
? Daddy’s home… Hey, hey, hey, Daddy.
President Donald J. Trump attended the NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands. pic.twitter.com/asJb5FD2Ii
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 26, 2025
NATO Secretary-General praised Trump’s military strikes on Iran, describing the US President as a firm parental figure stepping in during a crisis.
Trump compared Iran and Israel to “two kids in a school yard”. “They’ve had a big fight, like two kids in a schoolyard,” Trump said. “You know, they fight like hell. You can’t stop them. Let them fight for about two, three minutes, then it’s easier to stop,” he added.
To this, Rutte extended the metaphor, saying, “Then daddy has to sometimes use strong language.” Trump laughed at Rutte’s “Daddy” remark and acknowledged the use of his unexpected expletive. “Everyone said ‘Well, you have to use a certain word’,” he said.
Rutte’s remark came during a press conference following Trump’s meeting with NATO leaders. Asked whether his approach towards Trump appeared “weak” or even “demeaning”, Rutte dismissed the criticism, saying, “No, I don’t think so. I think it’s a bit of a question of taste. But he is a good friend.”
Rutte was referring to Trump’s angry reaction earlier in the day at the White House, where the president was visibly upset about the possibility of the Iran-Israel ceasefire falling apart.
“The two countries have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing, do you understand that?” Trump had told reporters.
When asked later about the nickname, Trump said he didn’t mind it. “He did it very affectionately,” Trump said.
The exchange also drew laughter from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was present when Trump responded to Rutte’s comment.
The Dutch leader also credited Trump for pushing NATO members toward higher defense spending. “Would you ever think this would be the result of this summit if he would not have been re-elected president?” he asked rhetorically.