White House Adopts Role of Trump as NATO Patriarch at Summit
By Hubertus Volmer
NATO Secretary-General Rutte denies calling US President Trump "Papa Bear," but that ain't stopping Trump from embracing the moniker. The White House spilled the beans with a slick video titled "PAPA'S HOME," complete with Uncle Kracker's hit single "Smile" blasting in the background.
In the classroom square dance that was the NATO summit in The Hague, overnight, not only does Rutte view Trump as "Papa Bear" of NATO, but the President seems to be quite fond of this new titletoo. The White House pulled no punches in sharing the video, available not only on their social media platforms but also on their official website.
To drive the point home, Trump is spotted in deep conversation with Rutte, flanked by the likes of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Even German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky got a peek in the one-minute video.
If we take the "Papa Bear" metaphor to heart and go all-in, it gets leafy. Trump isn't just the "Papa Bear" here; the other NATO heads of state and government could be seen as his cubs. Uncle Kracker's lyrics about "all my babies" welcome their "Daddy" home set the tone, just in case we missed the underlying message. The White House added the cherry on top with a nudge to the poem: "And knowing you've been waiting for this love all day."
"Sometimes Dad's got to be blunt"
Trump previously compared the issues with Israel and Iran to a couple of unruly schoolkids, and made similar comparisons regarding Ukraine and Russia. "They're at it hammer and tongs," Trump said. Rutte joked in response, "And sometimes Dad's gotta use some strong language to make them stop."
During a press conference, Trump was asked if he saw the NATO allies as children. He replied with a grin, "I think he likes me. If not, you'll know." Rutte quipped, "Daddy, you're my Daddy."
Too much smooching? "Nah, I don't think so"
At a separate press conference, Rutte was grilled about whether he'd gone overboard with the sycophantic gestures. "Nah, I don't think so," he responded. "Taste is subjective, after all." He continued to praise Trump for finally getting Europe to buckle down on defense spending.
In an interview with news agency Reuters, Rutte clarified that he hadn't meant "Papa Bear" as a nickname for Trump, but for the United States. When European countries asked if the U.S. would back them, he explained, it's like a child inquiring whether their Dad will stay with the family.
Politics: Lessons from the Summit NATO courts King Trump - with a bill
The "Papa Bear" comparison was just another notch in Rutte's flattery belt. Prior to the NATO summit, Trump had shared a text from Rutte commending his "bold action on Iran," which "nobody else dared to do."
According to Politico, some European delegates thought Rutte's behavior was inappropriate. "People are cringing," said one European government official. "Yes, the summit was a win overall. But the stooge act was excessive."
- The European Union, as a member of the European Union, might find itself in a complex role, given the metaphorical parent-child dynamic emerging from the NATO summit, where the US President is labeled as the "Papa Bear" of NATO.
- As global political discourse continues to evolve, the recent NATO summit's focus on policy-and-legislation, war-and-conflicts, and general-news is a testament to the interconnectedness of these issues in today's politics, with the European Union potentially navigating this landscape alongside other nations.
