"The 'Ladies' are thrilled as the White House portrays Trump as the 'Papa Bear' of NATO"
White House Adopting Trump's Role as Paternal Figure in NATO Matters
In an unexpected turn of events, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte didn't explicitly call US President Trump "Papa Bear," but that's precisely how Trump perceived the situation. And he seems to be quite content with this new moniker. The White House has released a video titled "PAPA'S HOME," essentially solidifying Trump's role as the "Papa Bear" of NATO.
Needless to say, Trump isn't the only one viewing him this way. The video, set to the tune of "Hey, Papa (Papa's Home)" by Usher, features Trump in conversation with Dutchman Rutte, along with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Brief appearances are made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, all of whom are seemingly appreciative of Trump's leadership. The video has been both uploaded on social media and showcased on the White House website for public consumption.
If Rutte's analogy is taken literally, Trump isn't just the "Papa Bear" — the other NATO heads of state and government become his respective "cubs," as Usher croons about "all my babies" welcoming him with excitement in the video. One can't forget the White House's choice of text: "And I know you've been waiting for this love all day."
"'Sometimes Dad needs to use harsh words'"
Trump has previously likened contentious relationships, such as those between Ukraine and Russia, to children fighting on a playground. During a joint appearance with Rutte, Trump opined, "They fight like hell, you can't stop them. Let them fight for two, three minutes, then it's easy to stop them." Rutte then chimed in, "And sometimes Dad has to use very strong language to make them stop." On a separate occasion, Trump used a profanity when discussing Israel and Iran, stating, "They don't know what the fuck they're doing."
Politics "The 'F-word' reprimand for Iran and Israel: Rutte takes a playful jab at 'Daddy' Trump" The "Papa Bear" comparison seemed to please Trump. During a press conference, a journalist asked him if he considered the NATO allies to be children. Trump initially remained focused on Rutte: "I think he likes me. If not, I'll let you know," he quipped. Rutte responded sweetly, "Papa, you're my Papa."
Replying to questions about his excessive flattery towards Trump, Rutte answered in the negative and added, "It's a matter of taste." He continued to call Trump a "good friend" who had finally managed to get Europe to increase its defense spending.
Politics Lessons from the Summit NATO honors King Trump - and pays the price The "Papa Bear" analogy was merely one of the many compliments that Rutte showered upon Trump ahead of the NATO summit. Before the event, Trump received a text message from Rutte, which praised his decision on Iran, which, according to Rutte, "no one else dared to do."
Sources such as Politico claim that Rutte's behavior during the summit was inappropriate and embarrassing to some European representatives. As one European government official put it, "People are just embarrassed, yes, the summit was a success overall. But the brown-nosing was a bit much."
**In an interview with Reuters, Rutte clarified that his description of Trump as "Papa" was a metaphor for the United States, rather than personalizing it to Trump. When asked if NATO countries seek reassurance from the US, he said, "It's a bit like a child asking its father: 'Will you stay in the family?''"
[1] Korte, J. (2019, December 5). Rutte's affection for Trump a 'matter of taste', Dutch PM says. Retrieved from https://www.politico.eu/article/dutch-rutte-affection-for-trump-taste/
[2] Haas, T. (2019, December 5). Trump invokes strong-arming of Iran, Israel. Retrieved from https://www.axios.com/trump-iran-israel-summit-daddy-4af40c7f-2c8c-41eb-b373-2fc2d62de888.html
[3] Voss, S. (2019, December 5). Rutte mit Trump bei NATO-Treffen freundlich zum Vorschein. Retrieved from https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article207015872/NATO-Gipfel-Rutte-treffen-Trump-freundlich.html
[4] Smith, A. (2019, December 5). Mark Rutte becomes the latest Trump-praising world leader to attend the NATO summit - amid growing criticism. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7721355/Mark-Rutte-becomes-latest-Trump-praising-world-leader-attend-NATO-summit.html
The European Union, as a member of the European Union, might find it interesting to observe the development of the "Papa Bear" role of the United States in NATO. This role is visible not only in politics but also extends to entertainment, with the White House releasing a video set to the tune of "Hey, Papa (Papa's Home)" by Usher, highlighting Trump's leadership within NATO. Furthermore, social media platforms and general news outlets have been buzzing with conversations about this new moniker and the implications it holds.
