Donald Trump reveals fawning text message from NATO chief: 'Europe is going to pay big!'
Trump posted a text purportedly from Rutte, which congratulated the president for his "truly extraordinary" actions in Iran
Donald Trump has shared a screenshot of a text message from Mark Rutte, in which the NATO Secretary General praised the US President for his "decisive action in Iran" and suggested that NATO members agreed to boost their defense spending.
Trump posted the text in a post on Truth Social Tuesday, in which Rutte congratulated the president for his “truly extraordinary” actions in Iran and said it was “something no one else dared to do.”
"It makes us all safer," the message said.
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Rutte added that Trump was “flying into another big success in The Hague" - referencing the NATO summit, which began on Tuesday.
“It was not easy but we’ve got them all signed onto 5 percent!” Rutte's message said.
“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. Safe travels and see you at His Majesty's dinner!"
NATO confirmed that the message came from Rutte.
The US President left the White House on Tuesday as he headed to the summit at the Hague, where NATO leaders are expected to set a new spending goal.
Trump has repeatedly called for NATO allies to boost defense investment to five percent of gross domestic product and has cast doubt over whether the US would defend allies that don’t spend enough. For years, he has accused member states of not paying their fair share toward defense.
The US is the most powerful country in NATO and spends more on defense than any other member.
In 2023, NATO leaders agreed to spend at least two percent of GDP on national defense budgets. So far, 22 of the 32 member countries have done so. Trump has taken credit for countries meeting the spending targets because of his threats.
Earlier this year, the European Union announced plans to break its security dependency on the US, with a focus on buying more defense equipment in Europe.
Under the plan, member countries will be encouraged to buy their military equipment in Europe, working mostly with European suppliers.
