NATO Executive Director’s Remarks on Trump at Summit
On Wednesday, NATO Executive Director Mark Latte referred to President Trump as “daddy” during a press conference. This comment came about when Trump was discussing the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, likening it to children fighting in a schoolyard.
“They fought like two kids in the schoolyard. They fought like hell, and you can’t stop them,” Trump said, elaborating that after a few minutes, it’s relatively easy to halt their quarrels. This was part of a joint press event prior to the NATO summit in The Hague. Latte chuckled and quickly followed up with his remark.
In a further show of support, Latte called Trump “a good friend” and commended him for the summit’s success, especially highlighting Trump’s push for increased military spending in Europe.
“Regarding Iran, I think he deserves immense praise for taking such decisive and targeted action that prevented Iran from obtaining nuclear capabilities,” he stated.
When questioned about the possibility of being overly complimentary towards Trump, Latte responded, “No, I don’t think so. It’s a matter of taste, perhaps.”
In a fiery moment, Trump expressed frustration about both Israel and Iran, with both nations reportedly criticizing his actions. “I think they both violated,” he commented as he prepared to leave for the NATO summit. “They’re two countries that have been fighting for a long time. I honestly don’t understand what they’re doing, do you?”
Later, Trump stated that a deal had been reestablished between Israel and Iran. “Israel is not going to attack Iran. All the planes have turned around and gone home, establishing a friendly ceasefire!” he shared on social media.
The light-hearted exchange between Latte and Trump took place after Latte had sent various congratulatory messages to the president leading up to the NATO meeting. “I’m thankful for your decisive action in Iran. Truly extraordinary,” he had written.
Latte also noted, “It wasn’t easy, but we all signed 5%! You drove us into significant moments that matter for America, Europe, and the world.” Some commentators have dubbed the former Dutch Prime Minister as the “Trump Whisperer” due to his close rapport with the president.
