At the NATO summit in The Hague, Donald Trump praised alliance members for their agreement to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. In his first public remarks at the summit, Trump stated that the U.S. would fully support the initiative.
He highlighted that many countries had previously failed to meet the old 2% target and called the new agreement a major win for NATO’s strength and cohesion. The increase includes 3.5% for core military spending, with the remainder covering infrastructure, intelligence, and cybersecurity.
Trump Defends Iran Strikes, Rutte Praises His Leadership and NATO Spending Influence
The press conference also focused heavily on Trump’s rejection of media reports that claimed Iran’s nuclear sites had not been significantly damaged by U.S. airstrikes. Trump defended the effectiveness of the strikes, saying they had a decisive impact, and compared them to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
He criticized outlets like CNN and The New York Times for their coverage of the aftermath. Despite the controversy, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the military action as “extremely impressive” and called Trump a man of peace who was not afraid to use the U.S.’s military power.
Trump Touts NATO Spending Hike as Major Win, Backed by Rutte’s Bold PraiseMark Rutte, the former Dutch prime minister and current NATO figurehead, attributed the alliance’s new defense commitments to Trump’s leadership. He stated plainly, “Without President Trump this would not have happened,” and referred to him as “the daddy” of the initiative. Rutte emphasized that the changes were not about increasing U.S. taxpayer burden but about urging European and Canadian allies to contribute more, aligning with the U.S. level of spending.
Trump Criticizes Biden’s NATO Record, Receives Rutte’s Backing for Tough Leadership Style
Trump used the opportunity to draw a contrast between his NATO strategy and that of former President Joe Biden. He claimed that under Biden’s leadership, discussions around increased defense spending had stalled, stating bluntly, “It just died, like everything else died.” Trump’s message reinforced his position that U.S. leadership had been more assertive and effective during his term, especially in holding NATO allies accountable.
As discussions wrapped up, Rutte again offered supportive remarks, even defending Trump’s coarse language directed at Iran and Israel during previous sessions. Referring to Trump’s earlier criticism of both nations during ceasefire negotiations, Rutte quipped, “Daddy sometimes has to use strong language.” The press conference served as both a policy announcement and a show of solidarity, positioning Trump as a central force behind NATO’s evolving defense strategy.