Donald Trump gave a speech to the world elite, but sounded like a loving father on his way to preschool to pick up his child: “Mark, are you here? Hi Mark!”
The NATO chief waved happily back from the audience in Davos.
It was also precisely that warmth, the chemistry between them, that made Mark Rutte considered such a good successor to Jens Stoltenberg. He knew how to keep Donald Trump in a good mood, it was said. And as long as the president was happy, disasters would not occur.
And the gods know that Rutte has lived up to his reputation; whispering and flattering. In private text messages after the bombing of Iran – which Trump later published – Rutte wrote that Trump is about to “achieve something NO American president in decades could do”. He also explained to Trump that “Europe will have to pay BIG, as they should, and that will be your profit”.
That time he was referring to defense costs.
Yet no flattery was more embarrassing than when he finally called Donald Trump “daddy.” Expressing himself that way was just a matter of taste, he later explained. But the truth is that those five tasteless letters contain much more than that.
This becomes clear when you read Donald Trump’s interview with Politico at the end of last year. Because when he is asked if he will try to influence European elections – Alternative for Germany and Viktor Orbán have previously been promoted by his administration – he replies that “NATO calls me daddy. I mean, I have a lot to say about”.
Mark Rutte has thus, with his inferiority complex, made Donald Trump believe that he can rule Europe.
We see the consequences of this in Denmark.
In recent weeks, Donald Trump has demanded to take over Greenland – and threatened to impose punitive tariffs on anyone who sides with the Danes. And not even the most naive Trump whisperers can dismiss it as talk this time. Last week, Denmark prepared militarily for the US to attack them, according to an investigation by Danmarks Radio.
This is no game, and it is also noticeable in the reactions. Europe has finally understood: It is not possible to talk – or flatter – Donald Trump. And for the past week, it is no longer Mark Rutte who European leaders regard as the guiding star, but his namesake, the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney. In Davos, he broke the taboo and said in his speech as it were: the US cannot be trusted, it is time to wake up.
And perhaps it is no coincidence that it is Canadians and Danes who are now showing the way. Even in Canada, for the first time in 100 years, people have now prepared how to meet an American attack.
Trump’s threat to attack allies was also the reason why the EU, after months of fumbling, suddenly said so concentratedly and clearly: Enough is enough. This time, they didn’t respond to the threats by looking down – they prepared their own.
But what does Mark Rutte do then? Well, he’s starting negotiations with Donald Trump – about Greenland. Over the head of Denmark.
“We get everything we want at no cost,” Trump snarled on Fox Business after he blew off the threats of new punitive tariffs. According to sources, what is now being discussed is a framework agreement that, among other things, involves Denmark giving up sovereignty over the American bases. According to sources, Greenland’s natural resources are also part of the negotiation. Something NATO has denied.
Some interpret this as a success for Mark Rutte. How is that even possible?
When Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen feels compelled to go out and declare that no one else can negotiate Denmark’s territory – not even NATO – then daddy’s boy has crossed all boundaries.
It’s time for him to change jobs.
One_Alternative_6965 on
Not a big fan of Rutte to say the least. (Am Dutch)
But he did handle that oranje toddler baboon quite wel no? Basically from what I understand Rapist-man walked away with a deal that was already in place.
Also pretty sure its not up to Rutte te give away parts of Greenland even if he wanted.
But outside that, its probably is time for a strong NATO leader
about now thats moves us away from Dumbfukistan for now/good.
The ass kissing/ or in Rutte his case French kissing his inner buttocks feels just awful and weak.
Jehuty321 on
He does a great job managing Trump giving him the feeling he got what he wanted while not giving him anything. That’s exactly while he got the job in the first place and it works
ExotiquePlayboy on
Mark Rutte represents all of NATO, not just one country
If he says Greenland belongs to America then that’s what it is despite what r/europe says
SeveralLadder on
To be Secretary General of NATO today is having to deal with serious mental illness, because that is what the U.S. wanted to represent their country.
I think he handled it well, all things considering.
Docccc on
This is kind of misinformation. “started negotiations about greenland over the head of denmark”
nobody knows what has been said. There arent any concrete talks or agreements at all.
personnel i doubt anything of substance has been said and trump just wanted a way out
TrueRignak on
Trying to appease Trump him to threaten us of war for conquest of Greenland. On the contrary, answering his threats by sending soldiers to Greenland, freezing the tarrif deal and retaliating in his commercial war led him to back down.
What Rutte’s is doing is extremely dangerous. We need to deter Trump, not to encourage him to pressure us.
justbecauseyoumademe on
People seem to be confused. Rutte while european is nato chief. NATO aint just europe.
He has to toe a line between american demands and European ones. People expect him to be anti American but that was not the job he was hired for.
ok_alsodot11 on
I think what he did at Davos was just give Trump a meaningless off ramp. There’s a balance though. I think we are getting to the point where indulging Trump risks him taking that for weakness and pushing harder.
Cypherius on
Rutte is doing exactly what he’s supposed to do! His number one job is to ensure that NATO keeps together. He was elected to the position, because he’s an expert in handling Trump while giving him nothing and that’s exactly what he did.
solar_breeze on
He’s been compromised
tortorototo on
Changing Rutte won’t change the fact that NATO is over. Alliance between EU, UK, Ukraine, and Canada is the future. Japan and South Korea can make a bilateral security agreements. Australia can join anyone they see fit. Eventually, South America will seek their own defense strategy, and EU should be open for business.
helemaalwak on
Trump’s army is killing people in the streets and our former prime minister is kissing Trump’s ass
Don_Ozwald on
I was for Rutte’s approach at handling the man child. But I’ve started to question it after its’ Greenland threats this year. Enabling its’ tantrums seem just to make them worse. It’s time to put the feet down.
It’s time to take his talks of a trade war seriously and wield the bazooka back at them.
NullPointerExpect3d on
Rutte has an impossible job. How do you tame a six year old who has basically been told he is king and has never been told no?
The USA is still our friend and still our ally. They are going through a tough time. When a friend goes through a tough time, you stand by him, but we need to set boundries and act on them to protect our selfs. That is not Rutte’s job, however.
ShortyLV on
Shit article about a person not understanding how high-diplomacy works.
Capital_Resident_872 on
I know he’s not viewed very favourably by many Danes, Greenlanders etc. right now. Many feel like he made deals on our behalf and he hasn’t done much to clarify what actually happened.
AffectionateField569 on
Rutte is an excellent NATO SecGen by all means. He is cunning, diplomatic, and keeps the Americans on board. That’s exactly what the alliance needs at the moment.
What exactly is the problem here? Can somebody point me to the problematic parts? Because at worse what I’m seeing is that Rutte says Trump is right we need to defend the arctic and we should do that as allies together:
>Of course, I see that there are these tensions at the moment. There’s no doubt. Again, I’m not going to comment on that, but I can assure you, the only way to deal with that is, in the end, thoughtful diplomacy. So statements from me will not add anything here.
>And when it comes to the Arctic, I think President Trump is right, other leaders in NATO are right: we need to defend the Arctic. We know that the sea lanes are opening up. We know that China and Russia are increasingly active in the Arctic. There are eight countries bordering on the Arctic. Seven are a member of NATO, that’s Finland and Sweden and Norway and Denmark, Iceland, Canada and the US. And there’s only one country bordering on the Arctic outside NATO, that’s Russia.
>And I would argue there is a ninth country, which is China, which is increasingly active in the Arctic region. So, President Trump and other leaders are right. We have to do more there. We have to protect the Arctic against Russian and Chinese influence. And that is exactly what NATO ambassadors decided to do in September. We are working on that, making sure that, collectively, will we defend the Arctic region.
andupotorac on
He managed to make Trumtin to back off.
Fluffy-Drop5750 on
Nonsense. NATO survived because Rutte gave Trump an off-ramp. Country leaders represent their country. Rutte represents only the NATO treaty.
21 commenti
Donald Trump gave a speech to the world elite, but sounded like a loving father on his way to preschool to pick up his child: “Mark, are you here? Hi Mark!”
The NATO chief waved happily back from the audience in Davos.
It was also precisely that warmth, the chemistry between them, that made Mark Rutte considered such a good successor to Jens Stoltenberg. He knew how to keep Donald Trump in a good mood, it was said. And as long as the president was happy, disasters would not occur.
And the gods know that Rutte has lived up to his reputation; whispering and flattering. In private text messages after the bombing of Iran – which Trump later published – Rutte wrote that Trump is about to “achieve something NO American president in decades could do”. He also explained to Trump that “Europe will have to pay BIG, as they should, and that will be your profit”.
That time he was referring to defense costs.
Yet no flattery was more embarrassing than when he finally called Donald Trump “daddy.” Expressing himself that way was just a matter of taste, he later explained. But the truth is that those five tasteless letters contain much more than that.
This becomes clear when you read Donald Trump’s interview with Politico at the end of last year. Because when he is asked if he will try to influence European elections – Alternative for Germany and Viktor Orbán have previously been promoted by his administration – he replies that “NATO calls me daddy. I mean, I have a lot to say about”.
Mark Rutte has thus, with his inferiority complex, made Donald Trump believe that he can rule Europe.
We see the consequences of this in Denmark.
In recent weeks, Donald Trump has demanded to take over Greenland – and threatened to impose punitive tariffs on anyone who sides with the Danes. And not even the most naive Trump whisperers can dismiss it as talk this time. Last week, Denmark prepared militarily for the US to attack them, according to an investigation by Danmarks Radio.
This is no game, and it is also noticeable in the reactions. Europe has finally understood: It is not possible to talk – or flatter – Donald Trump. And for the past week, it is no longer Mark Rutte who European leaders regard as the guiding star, but his namesake, the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney. In Davos, he broke the taboo and said in his speech as it were: the US cannot be trusted, it is time to wake up.
And perhaps it is no coincidence that it is Canadians and Danes who are now showing the way. Even in Canada, for the first time in 100 years, people have now prepared how to meet an American attack.
Trump’s threat to attack allies was also the reason why the EU, after months of fumbling, suddenly said so concentratedly and clearly: Enough is enough. This time, they didn’t respond to the threats by looking down – they prepared their own.
But what does Mark Rutte do then? Well, he’s starting negotiations with Donald Trump – about Greenland. Over the head of Denmark.
“We get everything we want at no cost,” Trump snarled on Fox Business after he blew off the threats of new punitive tariffs. According to sources, what is now being discussed is a framework agreement that, among other things, involves Denmark giving up sovereignty over the American bases. According to sources, Greenland’s natural resources are also part of the negotiation. Something NATO has denied.
Some interpret this as a success for Mark Rutte. How is that even possible?
When Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen feels compelled to go out and declare that no one else can negotiate Denmark’s territory – not even NATO – then daddy’s boy has crossed all boundaries.
It’s time for him to change jobs.
Not a big fan of Rutte to say the least. (Am Dutch)
But he did handle that oranje toddler baboon quite wel no? Basically from what I understand Rapist-man walked away with a deal that was already in place.
Also pretty sure its not up to Rutte te give away parts of Greenland even if he wanted.
But outside that, its probably is time for a strong NATO leader
about now thats moves us away from Dumbfukistan for now/good.
The ass kissing/ or in Rutte his case French kissing his inner buttocks feels just awful and weak.
He does a great job managing Trump giving him the feeling he got what he wanted while not giving him anything. That’s exactly while he got the job in the first place and it works
Mark Rutte represents all of NATO, not just one country
If he says Greenland belongs to America then that’s what it is despite what r/europe says
To be Secretary General of NATO today is having to deal with serious mental illness, because that is what the U.S. wanted to represent their country.
I think he handled it well, all things considering.
This is kind of misinformation. “started negotiations about greenland over the head of denmark”
nobody knows what has been said. There arent any concrete talks or agreements at all.
personnel i doubt anything of substance has been said and trump just wanted a way out
Trying to appease Trump him to threaten us of war for conquest of Greenland. On the contrary, answering his threats by sending soldiers to Greenland, freezing the tarrif deal and retaliating in his commercial war led him to back down.
What Rutte’s is doing is extremely dangerous. We need to deter Trump, not to encourage him to pressure us.
People seem to be confused. Rutte while european is nato chief. NATO aint just europe.
He has to toe a line between american demands and European ones. People expect him to be anti American but that was not the job he was hired for.
I think what he did at Davos was just give Trump a meaningless off ramp. There’s a balance though. I think we are getting to the point where indulging Trump risks him taking that for weakness and pushing harder.
Rutte is doing exactly what he’s supposed to do! His number one job is to ensure that NATO keeps together. He was elected to the position, because he’s an expert in handling Trump while giving him nothing and that’s exactly what he did.
He’s been compromised
Changing Rutte won’t change the fact that NATO is over. Alliance between EU, UK, Ukraine, and Canada is the future. Japan and South Korea can make a bilateral security agreements. Australia can join anyone they see fit. Eventually, South America will seek their own defense strategy, and EU should be open for business.
Trump’s army is killing people in the streets and our former prime minister is kissing Trump’s ass
I was for Rutte’s approach at handling the man child. But I’ve started to question it after its’ Greenland threats this year. Enabling its’ tantrums seem just to make them worse. It’s time to put the feet down.
It’s time to take his talks of a trade war seriously and wield the bazooka back at them.
Rutte has an impossible job. How do you tame a six year old who has basically been told he is king and has never been told no?
The USA is still our friend and still our ally. They are going through a tough time. When a friend goes through a tough time, you stand by him, but we need to set boundries and act on them to protect our selfs. That is not Rutte’s job, however.
Shit article about a person not understanding how high-diplomacy works.
I know he’s not viewed very favourably by many Danes, Greenlanders etc. right now. Many feel like he made deals on our behalf and he hasn’t done much to clarify what actually happened.
Rutte is an excellent NATO SecGen by all means. He is cunning, diplomatic, and keeps the Americans on board. That’s exactly what the alliance needs at the moment.
Here’s the transcript of Rutte’s remarks at Davos [https://www.nato.int/en/news-and-events/events/transcripts/2026/01/21/nato-secretary-general-at-world-economic-forum-davos](https://www.nato.int/en/news-and-events/events/transcripts/2026/01/21/nato-secretary-general-at-world-economic-forum-davos)
What exactly is the problem here? Can somebody point me to the problematic parts? Because at worse what I’m seeing is that Rutte says Trump is right we need to defend the arctic and we should do that as allies together:
>Of course, I see that there are these tensions at the moment. There’s no doubt. Again, I’m not going to comment on that, but I can assure you, the only way to deal with that is, in the end, thoughtful diplomacy. So statements from me will not add anything here.
>And when it comes to the Arctic, I think President Trump is right, other leaders in NATO are right: we need to defend the Arctic. We know that the sea lanes are opening up. We know that China and Russia are increasingly active in the Arctic. There are eight countries bordering on the Arctic. Seven are a member of NATO, that’s Finland and Sweden and Norway and Denmark, Iceland, Canada and the US. And there’s only one country bordering on the Arctic outside NATO, that’s Russia.
>And I would argue there is a ninth country, which is China, which is increasingly active in the Arctic region. So, President Trump and other leaders are right. We have to do more there. We have to protect the Arctic against Russian and Chinese influence. And that is exactly what NATO ambassadors decided to do in September. We are working on that, making sure that, collectively, will we defend the Arctic region.
He managed to make Trumtin to back off.
Nonsense. NATO survived because Rutte gave Trump an off-ramp. Country leaders represent their country. Rutte represents only the NATO treaty.