Rutte even called Trump the “daddy” for intervening in the fighting between Israel and Iran.
Other leaders also laid it on the U.S. president.
“This is the success of President Donald Trump,” Poland’s pro-Trump President Andrzej Duda told POLITICO. “He was the one who demanded that NATO nations raise their defense spending.”
As a result, during the leaders’ roundtable, which was kept to a tight two-and-a-half hours, Trump struck an unexpectedly measured tone, according to someone inside the room, who was granted anonymity to speak freely.
He reaffirmed America’s commitment to NATO “for four years,” the person said, the length of his second term as president. While repeating concerns about burden sharing, he praised allies and emphasized unity.
After the summit, Trump said he was “honored” to take part.