'It went s***': Trump's closed-door exchange with NATO chief exposed
Photo: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump sharply criticized NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during a closed-door meeting at the White House. The reason was Europe’s position on the conflict with Iran, reports Politico, citing sources familiar with the talk.
The meeting 'went s***'
Trump’s meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was planned as a working visit. But it quickly turned into something else.
According to European officials, Trump used it to express frustration that allies did not support US-Israeli actions against Iran.
"It went s***,” said one of the European officials. “The conversation was nothing but a tirade of insults. Trump apparently threatened to do just about anything."
The president did not voice any specific demands. The White House, for its part, denied that Trump made any conditions to allies at all.
Reaction of NATO and Europe
Within the alliance itself, the conversation was described as "frank but constructive." Rutte acknowledged that Trump was dissatisfied, but stressed that NATO unity remains.
After the meeting, Trump wrote on social media that NATO "wasn't there when we needed them." In the same post, he again raised the issue of Greenland.
The reaction of European partners was cautious:
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on the US not to stop negotiations with Iran. He stated readiness to help protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after the end of hostilities.
- France is considering its own defense steps.
- A coalition of more than 40 countries supports strengthening sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Iran — but without direct military involvement.
The Trump administration is considering a plan to punish certain NATO countries that, in the American leader’s view, did not support the US and Israel during the conflict with Iran. No details have been provided yet.
After the meeting with Trump, Rutte delivered a separate statement in Washington. As RBC-Ukraine reported, the NATO Secretary General acknowledged Europe’s excessive dependence on the US military and called it an "unhealthy codependency."
According to him, Trump’s pressure forced allies to increase defense budgets, opening the way to an equal partnership.
Rutte also touched on the topic of Ukraine. The Secretary General said that Ukrainian anti-drone technologies are already protecting allies on NATO’s eastern flank and countries in the Persian Gulf from Russian and Iranian UAVs.
According to Rutte, these developments did not exist a year ago.
