This wasn’t simply an infatuated supporter adoringly reacting or a self-promoting tweet in Trump’s typical ALL CAPS fashion. It was NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte delivering direct commendation to Trump as he en route to a two-day NATO summit in the Netherlands.
“Mr. President, dear Donald,” Rutte’s message initiated, as captured in a screenshot Trump shared on his social media platform. “Congratulations and thank you for your decisive action in Iran; that was truly exceptional, and something no one else dared to undertake. It enhances our collective safety.”
The overly complimentary tone could have been a strategy to flatter Trump prior to a crucial meeting — akin to the enthusiastic praise that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has embraced recently when negotiating a recent trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the U.S., aimed at softening Trump’s anticipated hefty tariffs on British imports.
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Rutte continued, “You are heading into another significant achievement in The Hague this evening. It was no small feat, but we’ve got everyone on board with 5 percent!” — referring to the commitment of other NATO member countries to spend 5% of their gross domestic product on defense, a request the Republican president has advocated for months.
“Donald, you have propelled us toward a truly, truly pivotal moment for America, Europe, and the globe. You will accomplish something NO American president in decades has been able to,” Rutte declared. “Europe will contribute substantially, as it should, and it will be your victory. Safe travels and see you at His Majesty’s dinner!”
NATO confirmed that the message originated from Rutte and was sent on Tuesday, though it refrained from providing further details regarding the method of communication used by the secretary-general.
The format of the text, indicated by the font style and screen icons in Trump’s post, suggests it may have been sent via the encrypted messaging app Signal, which allows messages to auto-delete, raising concerns regarding the challenges of preserving such communications as official records for presidential archives.
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Signal was implicated in a controversy involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who faced accusations of using the app, deemed unapproved and insecure, to distribute classified information related to a forthcoming U.S. airstrike in March on the Houthi rebel group in Yemen.
Trump staunchly defended Hegseth, asserting, “I have no idea what Signal is. I don’t care what Signal is.” However, he also remarked, “I would frankly advise these individuals not to use Signal.”
The White House stated on Tuesday that the message is authentic and was relayed to Trump through staff on a government device — but refrained from confirming whether it was sent via Signal or another messaging platform. This isn’t the first instance of a leader delivering a message to Trump that he later shared widely on social media.
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Last week, Trump shared a personal text from Mike Huckabee, his U.S. ambassador to Israel, which referenced God and declared that while Trump received much counsel on Iranian policies, “there is only one voice that matters, HIS voice.” Huckabee, who is also a Baptist minister, wrote, “I believe you will hear from heaven,” adding that this voice holds more weight than his or that of ANYONE else.
