The head of NATO, the Dutch Mark Rutte, explained on Thursday that his controversial remark last year, in which he referred to the US president, Donald Trump, as “daddy” (“daddy”) was due to a translation error in English, informs the Spanish news agency EFE.
At a forum in Washington, Rutte was asked if he still considers Trump “daddy” after their meeting at the White House on Wednesday, during which the US president expressed his disappointment with NATO allies over their lack of involvement in the Iran war.
“As far as “daddy” is concerned, it was a language problem,” answered Rutte, treating the question with humor, according to Agerpres.
“Daddy Trump”
The episode dates back to a meeting between the two in The Hague, in June of last year.
While Trump opined that Israel and Iran were “like two kids in the schoolyard; they argue fiercely, then they stop,” Rutte interrupted to say: “And then daddy (Trump, no) sometimes has to use harsh language to make them stop.”
Rutte explained on Thursday that he did not refer to Trump as his 'daddy': “In Dutch, the translation of the word 'daddy' would be 'father', but of course the word 'daddy' has a special connotation and now I will have to live with that for the rest of my life,” he said with a laugh.
The secretary general added that the episode went viral because Trump treated it with humor and “embroidered” on him.
“That's what happens when you're not a native speaker: you make mistakes. But it was funny, and that's why I like him (Trump),” the NATO chief concluded.
Rutte's critics interpreted his comment as an inappropriate display of adulation towards the White House leader.
Trump has recently stepped up his criticism of NATO over the allies' refusal to join a military coalition aimed at unblocking the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has closed in retaliation for US attacks.
After meeting with Rutte on Wednesday, Trump again attacked NATO, accusing it of not being “there” when Washington needed it.
