Rotten Politics: You Are Now Officially Daddy’s Good Boy

In a display reminiscent of high school dynamics, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has made headlines by aligning himself with the so-called bully of international politics—President Donald Trump. As the curtains closed on the recent NATO summit in The Hague, Rutte’s informal praise for Trump’s aggressive tactics, particularly regarding Iran and defense spending, has left many questioning his judgment.

Picture the scene: a cafeteria filled with students where the bully reigns supreme. There’s always that one kid who lingers by the tough guy’s side, laughing at his jokes and nodding along, hoping to gain some semblance of popularity. Rutte has taken on that role, showering Trump with compliments and even referring to him as a “daddy” during a press conference.

“It’s so cringe-worthy to watch,” one might say. Instead of fostering unity and cooperation among NATO allies, Rutte has positioned himself as a sidekick, celebrating the aggressive antics that only serve to escalate tensions. It’s almost as if he’s saying, “Hey, if you push those kids around a little more, maybe you’ll be even cooler!” How embarrassing!

During the press conference, Trump likened the disputes between Iran and Israel to a schoolyard brawl, suggesting that sometimes “daddy” needs to step in with some strong language. Rutte, eager to join the banter, quipped along with Trump, reinforcing the idea that might makes right. Meanwhile, the larger international community watches, shaking their heads at Rutte’s attempts to align with such tactics.

Just a day prior, Trump had shared private messages from Rutte on his Truth Social platform, in which Rutte praised Trump’s “decisive action” in Iran as “truly extraordinary.” The messages also commended Trump for pressuring European allies to increase their defense spending. Rutte defended these texts, insisting they were “appropriate” given the circumstances, further embedding himself in the role of the ultimate yes-man.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas even weighed in, defending Rutte by saying, “Mark Rutte is speaking Trump. He is speaking the language that President Trump understands.” But is this really the language we want our leaders to be promoting?

When pressed about whether his flattery of Trump was demeaning, Rutte brushed off concerns, saying, “No, I don’t think so. I think it’s a bit of a question of taste. He is a good friend.” But this begs the question: does a leader truly gain respect by cozying up to a figure known for his bullying tactics?

In this cringe ultimatum, Rutte faces a choice: step up and embody the values of true leadership or continue to play the role of the sidekick, hoping to gain some popularity while the rest of the world rolls its eyes. In a time when strong leadership is crucial for fostering cooperation, aligning with the bully in the cafeteria is certainly the last place any leader should want to be.