NATO’s ‘Trump Whisperer’ Faces Blowback

New York Times: “Mark Rutte, the secretary general of NATO, is often called a ‘Trump whisperer,’ able to mix public flattery with private advice to an unpredictable and moody American president whose support is crucial to the alliance and to Ukraine’s war against Russia.”

“To that end, Mr. Rutte, who took the job in October 2024, has been willing to accept a degree of humiliation for his efforts to keep Mr. Trump sweet and onside, especially on intelligence support for Ukraine. He even called Mr. Trump the alliance’s ‘Daddy’ before last year’s crucial NATO summit meeting.”

“But Mr. Rutte’s open support for Mr. Trump’s decision to go to war alongside Israel against Iran has brought new, sharper criticism.”