From the Associated Press: THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised President Donald Trump for making Europe “pay in a BIG way,” as leaders gathered in the Netherlands on Tuesday for a historic summit that could unite them around a new defense spending pledge or widen divisions among the 32 member countries of the security alliance.
The U.S. president, while en route, published a screenshot of a private message from Rutte saying: “Donald, you have driven us to a really, really important moment for America and Europe and the world. You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done.”
“Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win,” Rutte wrote. NATO confirmed that he sent the message.
Rutte appeared unconcerned that Trump aired it, telling reporters: “I have absolutely no trouble or problem with that because there’s nothing in it which had to stay secret.”
Below is a screenshot of the text Trump received from Rutte.
🚨’FLYING INTO BIG SUCCESS’ — Mark Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO, took to Trump’s inbox to congratulate the President’s decisive military action in Iran:
“You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done.” 🇺🇸👏 pic.twitter.com/bw5vqwyuH5
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) June 24, 2025
Tuesday evening, Rutte publicly praised President Trump, saying, “Let me salute President Trump’s longstanding leadership in calling for NATO to increase defense spending… Today I am pleased to announce NATO has already added an additional $1T in defense spending over the past decade. Mr. President — dear Donald — that is thanks to you pushing us.”
WATCH:
“Let me salute President Trump’s longstanding leadership in calling for NATO to increase defense spending,” says @SecGenNATO.
“NATO has already added an additional $1T in defense spending over the past decade. Mr. President — dear Donald — that is thanks to you pushing us.” pic.twitter.com/DD1t9aHSRr
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 24, 2025
Upon arriving in the Netherlands Tuesday afternoon, Trump stepped from the plane and plopped a white USA cap on his head.
.@POTUS arrives in The Hague, Netherlands, for the NATO summit — sporting his white “USA” cap 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Ha0cQpEyn8
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 24, 2025
Later Trump arrived at the Royal Palace in The Hague:
.@POTUS arrives at the Royal Palace in The Hague 🇺🇸🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/NjKiIHZIZk
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 24, 2025
Trump was welcomed by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.
.@POTUS greets King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands pic.twitter.com/GBq3BHHvtU
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 24, 2025
READ MORE from the Associated Press.
