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News & Current Events Apr 10, 2026 at 5:41 AM

Trump vented at Rutte over NATO inaction on Iran during turbulent meeting

Posted by Brilliant_Version344

Trump vented at Rutte over NATO inaction on Iran during turbulent meeting
POLITICO
Trump vented at Rutte over NATO inaction on Iran during turbulent meeting
The U.S. president berated allies and indicated he was considering reprisals for lack of support in the Middle East in a closed-door meeting with the military alliance chief.
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kilgore_trout1 Apr 10, 2026 +204
How many times does Trump need the phrase “defensive pact” explained to him? It should be criminal for the leader of any NATO member country to not know what NATO is.
204
tanaephis77400 Apr 10, 2026 +66
You assume "knowing" is a relevant factor for him to make decisions...
66
God_I_Hope_Its_Urine Apr 10, 2026 +57
He was elected to LEAD not to READ
57
kilgore_trout1 Apr 10, 2026 +33
Quite frankly, I would take President Schwarzenegger every day of the week right now.
33
duct_tape_jedi Apr 10, 2026 +19
Living in Sacramento, CA at the time, I was SO pissed off at the special election that put Arnie in the Governor's office. By the next election, though, I actually voted for him. It took him a minute to find his footing, but once he did he clearly had his head and his heart in the right place.
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just_anotjer_anon Apr 10, 2026 +9
I'm not sure about Austrian leaders...
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kilgore_trout1 Apr 10, 2026 +1
I think they’re usually fine when they get involved with another country’s politics though.
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MajorNarsilion Apr 10, 2026 +1
Arnie is a successful artist though, pretty sure that's the important part in this comparison. 
1
Sreg32 Apr 10, 2026 +39
He follows Putin’s orders. If you notice, he never criticizes him. Why Vance was in Hungary trying to prop up Orban. Like Trump, another Russian asset
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TemporarySun314 Apr 10, 2026 +1
Nah it's not only Putins orders. At least half of Americans also have no problem with how the US treats its allies... All of that comes already from the fascist mindset of "we are the greatest, and as such we have the right to do whatever we want. Everyone else are just NPCs to support us". That this fits quite well into Putins plans is just the reason Putin is supporting Trump.
1
OfferOwns Apr 10, 2026 +20
He inherited money, he never had to work for any of it. He had bunch of advisors he ignored and went bankrupt multiple times. Social media made him, he doesn't know shit and he destroys the world. I pray for his obituary.
20
SolemnaceProcurement Apr 10, 2026 +1
Yep, trump is the living rich second generation spoiled failiure trope. And they made him a president.
1
No-Cartoonist-2125 Apr 10, 2026 +1
And he has illegally made himself and friends bundle of $ by manipulating markets / bitcoin. They will have a lot of power from this illegally gained wealth.
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DrBorisGobshite Apr 10, 2026 +1
Not only is it a defensive alliance but the US specifically requested that a clause was added to the original agreement that limited NATO to defending an 'armed attack in Europe or North America'. The Iran war is an offensive attack in Asia, so it's a no on two counts. Article 4 also states that members can bring an issue of concern if they think their territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened. So Trump is perfectly able to involve Article 4 and present the threats Iran posed to the US if that was actually the case.
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AllLiquid2 Apr 10, 2026 +1
Change name to NADO - North Atlantic Defense Organization. And then start biannual defense drills around the largest island in the North Atlantic...
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WaffleHouseGladiator Apr 10, 2026 +1
During his first administration Angela Merkel had to explain EU trade deals to him 8 times and he still couldn't/wouldn't process that information.  My dad is the same age and temperament, so I know what it's like to deal with someone like that.  There's really no winning once they've made up their minds not to know something.  In my experience the best you can do is try to motivate the harm they do and stay clear of the inevitable problems they cause.  The difference is that the worst my dad can do is wreck his own life, but Trump could drop nukes if he wanted to.
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smoothjedi Apr 10, 2026 +1
Honestly I think he's listened to Putin explaining NATO to him, and he's surprised and angry they're not acting like Putin described.
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rbhmmx Apr 10, 2026 +1
I want to know which article of NATO Trump is calling upon
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Dry_Departure_7813 Apr 10, 2026 +1
Do you think its because Putin has been telling trump nato is evil blah blah blah attacking people, and now hes like "wait I thought Nato would help me attack countries, Putin said they would"
1
obliviousofobvious Apr 10, 2026 +1
In a functioning administration, the SecDef would be rhe one advising and explaining. And the Preaident would have the wherewithal of accepting he or she does not know everything. In this administration? The Emperor's word is decree. Trump wants NATO to be his sword so we NATO members are belittled and insulted for not just kneeling and becoming the First Galactic Empire.
1
mikemalzeno Apr 10, 2026 +1
He knows. It's all just victim blaming and deteriorating the alliance. If anything goes bad he just shits on NATO wich they will definitely retreat from if given the opportunity.
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fgorina Apr 10, 2026 +77
I don’t understand Trump problems with NATO. NATO is a defensive pact. WHO attacked US?.
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Prior_Industry Apr 10, 2026 +50
He's a coward just looking for something to lash out at and blame that he knows is unlikely to punch back. If this war was going well NATO wouldn't get a mention.
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TheProcrastafarian Apr 10, 2026 +1
That, plus, he doesn’t want to piss Putin off because then he won’t get to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. I swear, he cares more about that than he does about anything else, with 2 exceptions: Staying out of prison, and a Nobel peace prize.
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ChopperChange Apr 10, 2026 +47
Trump is a Russian asset.
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TemporarySun314 Apr 10, 2026 +1
And Americans support that. Or at very least have no problem with that
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lnth1 Apr 10, 2026 +1
Not sure trying to erase a close, strong Russian ally from our civilization is what a Russian asset would do
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TheVideogaming101 Apr 10, 2026 +13
It's part of the Republican agenda to get the US out of NATO so he'll throw them under the bus whenever possible.
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TVCasualtydotorg Apr 10, 2026 +1
He also didn't inform any of the NATO countries ahead of starting the war and then couldn't explain what the objectives were or what the exit plan looked like. He just expected for everyone else to blindly jump in because he wanted them to.
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Jumpy-Force-3397 Apr 10, 2026 +10
Trump and his clique see Europe as an enemy. Every opportunity to sabotage and weaken Europe is leveraged. What they say, their reasoning don’t matter, their actions are crystal clear.
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scarab1001 Apr 10, 2026 +1
He only perceives NATO through the lens of Putin - and has admitted as much.
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rabidstoat Apr 10, 2026 +1
Iran -- after the US attacked first and bombed the shit out of it. Maybe he thinks that means he's now defending against Iran. He's pretty stupid.
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Wyand1337 Apr 10, 2026 +1
He is trying to pressure europe into joining the war, since it got out of hand. That's all.
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strangey071 Apr 10, 2026 +48
NATO is not his little gang for bullying the world, just because little Donny don’t get his own way, what a dangerous melt that idiot is
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SilentRoberto Apr 10, 2026 +5
This. Problem is the proud electorate behind him which in some cases completely lacks the power to feel any sort of shame or regret. At least we can enjoy Iran bullying him: https://youtu.be/5G9DNx7xIIc
5
ProductGuy48 Apr 10, 2026 +18
Crying like the Taco b**** he is, like a bully that gets hit in the face
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SelfSufficientHub Apr 10, 2026 +1
Only he’s hitting himself in the face. Trump is the boy who cries wolf except he’s also the wolf.
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Sluukje Apr 10, 2026 +1
I missed the taco meme. Where is it originating from?
1
UsedToHaveThisName Apr 10, 2026 +1
A New York Times reporter noticing that Trump Always Chickens Out of whatever ridiculous thing he has promised to do to a country
1
Longy_LTB Apr 10, 2026 +17
Why doesn't any of these people tell it like it is to his face? They let him rant on and continue trying to politick? Just tell him "you made your bed, now lie in it. Don't start wars you can't finish and then cry to countries just a few months ago you threatened with invasion"
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OldLondon Apr 10, 2026 +22
Tbf Spain did 
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tanaephis77400 Apr 10, 2026 +1
Macron literally told him "Too much talk, too many directions", which is the closest thing in diplomacy to a "Shut up, you inane moron".
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deegee1969 Apr 10, 2026 +1
Didn't Starmer tell trump "No"? I'm sure trump then began jabbering about how the UKs naval fleet was "a toy" after Starmer replied that the UK wouldn't be involved in trumps war.
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dimwalker Apr 10, 2026 +13
Orange moron wants someone else to clean his mess.
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Brilliant_Version344 Apr 10, 2026 +12
No paywall - https://archive.ph/cJaKt
12
Brilliant_Version344 Apr 10, 2026 +3
What trump was frustrated about - https://archive.ph/yESVM
3
Artyparis Apr 10, 2026 +11
Would TACO support France if it starts a war somewhere ?
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Admirable-Drama-432 Apr 10, 2026 +26
Starts something without looping in NATO, then gets mad NATO didn’t jump in… that’s not leadership, that’s group project energy where the guy who did nothing still wants full credit.
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TheNightKing99 Apr 10, 2026 +1
Even if NATO was more than just a defensive pact, did Trump bother consulting any of them before launching an unnecessary war? On top, he was threatening Greenland just months ago. Trump is so hilariously delusional, just like the entire admin.
1
yoursandforever Apr 10, 2026 +4
The only thing NATO could have helped with is making a better decision. But, oh right, they weren‘t consulted. He’s just looking to spread blame for his own mistake. Trump’s leadership is what made this happen, NATO had nothing to do with it.
4
Crittsy Apr 10, 2026 +10
And Rutte took it up the arse like a good boy, get rid of, not fit for purpose
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Brilliant_Tapir Apr 10, 2026 +5
Probably said, "Thank you, daddy" after.
5
Zuparoebann Apr 10, 2026 +1
What would you want Rutte to do realistically? Trump can't be reasoned with and he will likely blow up Nato as soon as the EU gives him a reason. Best thing we can hope for is to appease him until the US comes to its senses and elects a normal president again or until the EU stops depending on the US military.
1
Crypt33x Apr 10, 2026 +1
Every normal human would explode on Trump and try to attack him. I can't even listen for half a minute to him. You have to be some weird masochist to be able to endure that never ending stream of insults, lies and braindead takes.
1
Electronic-Squash359 Apr 10, 2026 +1
Agreed. I’m usually a very calm and rational man, but Trump does something to me that awakens my caveman instincts and makes me want to pummel his face with the nearest rock.
1
EmmaFrostBroken Apr 10, 2026 +1
Of course it's everyone else's fault except his. This thing in a suit could be on the verge of watching the entire world about to explode and split in half entirely due to his own actions and he'd die still insisting he did nothing wrong and blaming everyone else. People have to realise there is never going to be a light bulb moment with Trump. He's 80. He's not going to suddenly learn the concept of consequences for his own actions or learn humility. If he wasn't stopped he would destroy the entire world, while insisting he's saving it. That means he and by extension his government is now effectively out enemy, and we should treat it as such.
1
aotus_trivirgatus Apr 10, 2026 +1
Rutte made some disturbingly conciliatory remarks about Trump after the meeting. And then, fortunately, he said that NATO would still not help America wage its war of choice in Iran. I hope that the first set of remarks were just the flattery that everyone says helps to corral Agent Orange.
1
Mumbert Apr 10, 2026 +1
Of course the concept of NATO is too complicated for this blithering idiot to understand. 
1
Drenosa Apr 10, 2026 +1
People are also going off on Rutte for his words after this meeting, since he basically seemed to pick Trump's side in how NATO supposedly failed its duties towards one of its members. Yet, kind of knowing what Rutte's personality is like, I think it should be obvious that those words were carefully chosen to sooth the tantrum of toddler Trump. Still fucked that we, the rest of the world, can only really sit and watch this shitshow unfold ever further.
1
This_Way_Comes Apr 10, 2026 +1
It's a defensive alliance bro
1
basicastheycome Apr 10, 2026 +14
And Rutte like an obedient little yapping dog went back to Europe to lecture us us how we bad bad Euros have failed NATO
14
adamkex Apr 10, 2026 +1
This is why Rutte was picked. It's literally his job to kiss his ass, someone like Trump can't be reasoned with.
1
basicastheycome Apr 10, 2026 +1
Trump can’t be reasoned with, yea, but we definitely should not appease him. Appeasement policies never ever in history of mankind has worked and it only invites very unpleasant fate for appeasers
1
adamkex Apr 10, 2026 +1
Appeasement works as a stalling tool. The way it should work is that Rutte appeases while European nations are improving their militaries and reducing US reliance on critical systems. What else should Rutte do, use "harsh words" which could lead to an actual invasion of Greenland?
1
abraxasnl Apr 10, 2026 +1
These backseat drivers think about diplomacy the way Trump thinks about it.
1
Lopsided-Affect-9649 Apr 10, 2026 +1
To add some context here the US contributes under 15% of NATOs running budget, around the same as Germany. Their overall defense spending is much higher of course, but in terms of the costs of running NATO the US is a relatively minor stakeholder.
1
hagenissen999 Apr 10, 2026 +1
And it's not like they spend all of their military budget on NATO either. I'm fairly certain they're well below 2% in real contributions to NATO.
1
4uk4ata Apr 10, 2026 +1
It was a test, and America failed by not reining him in.
1
dub-fresh Apr 10, 2026 +3
There's probably a form the US needs to fill out to put this request officially to NATO and they haven't done it yet. 
3
AffectionateRub1857 Apr 10, 2026 +2
In all fairness, there is probably a form to get the form to make the offical request
2
kl122002 Apr 10, 2026 +3
Could we just replace Rutte?
3
StrangerConscious637 Apr 10, 2026 +2
Rutte has to step down immediately for being extremly Anti-European.
2
CupEcstatic2721 Apr 10, 2026 +1
He supposedly intended to withdraw from NATO
1
Uncle_Hephaestus Apr 10, 2026 +1
God. it's so embarrassing that even a fraction of people though he would be a good president.​
1
Crypt33x Apr 10, 2026 +1
You couldn't pay me enough to sit with Trump together in a room like Rutte and get insulted all day long. I would get shot for attacking him.
1
DividedState Apr 10, 2026 +1
Somebody educate him on what NATO is. Please.
1
Miss_Might Apr 10, 2026 +1
Has anyone bothered to explain what NATO is to this paint huffer?
1
spiral8888 Apr 10, 2026 +1
What? Has Rutte finally grown a spine? So far he's been a total sycophant to Trump and it's been embarrassing to see him to be the European leader to NATO. If even he got now told off by Trump, then maybe this is a sign that he's finally understanding that he should represent the entire alliance, not just kiss Trump's ass.
1
Eeyanz Apr 10, 2026 +1
Has Mr Pillock Trump ever read the NATO agreement? Seems not.
1
pat_the_tree Apr 10, 2026 +1
Mark Rutte shouldnt have been so weak on Trump for the past year, now hes stuck.
1
sonnyempireant Apr 10, 2026 +1
Crybaby complaining "why won't you clean my mess up?!"
1
50Centurion Apr 10, 2026 +1
Trump doesn't understand tariffs and NATO He only understand how to r*** a child and abuse people
1
dnight22 Apr 10, 2026 +1
Rutte is in orange morons pocket
1
Busy_slime Apr 10, 2026 +1
Rutte needs to step down anyways. Macron will be perfect for trump
1
Paul__Perkenstein Apr 10, 2026 +1
Why is Mark Rutte, a Dutchman, pandering to Trump so much?? Is he demeaning NATO in an attempt to get European nations to create closer ties and increase spending? Why did he call Trump "Daddy?"
1
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