White House posts 'Daddy’s Home' video as Donald Trump embraces nickname from NATO chief
Photo: Reuters/X
The White House has released a video marking President Donald Trump’s return from the NATO summit in the Netherlands, set to Usher’s 2010 track “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home).”
🎶 Daddy’s home… Hey, hey, hey, Daddy.
President Donald J. Trump attended the NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands. pic.twitter.com/asJb5FD2IiThe social media clip, which features Trump disembarking Air Force One and footage from the summit, follows a light-hearted remark made by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who jokingly referred to the president as “daddy” during their meeting.
The comment arose while the leaders were discussing the collapse of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Rutte remarked, “And then daddy has to, sometimes, use strong language,” referencing Trump’s earlier remarks on the conflict. Trump replied with a laugh, “Strong language, yeah, every once and a while.”
Asked later whether the nickname implied a paternalistic view of allies, Trump said Rutte “did it very affectionately” and added, “Daddy, you’re my daddy.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, present during the exchange, was seen reacting with laughter.
Rutte later clarified his comment, explaining that it reflected concerns he hears from European countries about continued US support, saying the dynamic is like “a small child asking his daddy, ‘Hey, are you still staying with the family?’”
The video’s release drew a mix of amusement and discomfort across social platforms, with some calling it inappropriate or out of touch given recent international tensions.
This is not the first time Trump has been called “daddy” in political discourse. In 2024, pundit Tucker Carlson made similar remarks during a campaign rally, describing Trump as a disciplinary father figure.