Donald Trump shares private message with NATO chief with worrying threat to Europe
Donald Trump has once again caused a stir online after posting private messages from NATO chief Mark Rutte on his Truth Social account. The post included screenshots of a conversation that most people would expect to stay confidential especially when it involves international leaders discussing sensitive issues like war and diplomacy.
Rutte, who recently became NATO’s new chief, had sent Trump a message praising him for helping broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The message started warmly with “Mr. President, dear Donald,” and continued by thanking Trump for taking strong action that, according to Rutte, made the world a safer place. He called Trump’s move “extraordinary” and something no one else had dared to do.
It’s not clear whether Rutte sent the message before or after Trump cursed on live television. Trump had apparently gotten frustrated after learning that Israel planned to restart military strikes against Iran, possibly breaking the ceasefire.
Rutte’s message didn’t stop at praise for the ceasefire. He also mentioned the upcoming NATO summit and said Trump would be arriving just in time for another major success. According to him, all NATO members had now agreed to spend 5% of their GDP on defense, something Trump had been pushing hard for. Rutte told Trump that he had done what no other U.S. president had managed to accomplish in decades. He added that Europe would finally be paying its fair share, and it would all be thanks to Trump. He closed the message by wishing him safe travels and saying they’d meet at the king’s dinner.
Reuters later confirmed that the message really was from Rutte, but NATO refused to comment further. Rutte himself hasn’t said anything about Trump sharing the private texts. While some might assume he was caught off guard, this isn’t the first time Trump has made private conversations public. In the past, he shared flattering messages from Mike Huckabee, who called himself Trump’s “appointed servant” in Israel and said no other president had been in such a powerful position.
Some believe Rutte may have been trying to stay on Trump’s good side, especially after Trump earlier made comments that suggested he wasn’t fully committed to NATO’s Article 5, which is the agreement that says if one NATO country is attacked, all others will help defend it.
Before flying to The Hague, Trump told reporters that how the U.S. handles NATO obligations “depends on your definition” of Article 5. When pressed further on Air Force One, he said he’s committed to saving lives and protecting people, but he would explain his full view later, not while speaking from the back of a plane.
Trump and Rutte are expected to meet soon at the NATO summit in the Netherlands, where many leaders will be watching closely to see how this very public exchange plays out.
