President Donald Trump shared a message from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte Tuesday showering praise for getting the alliance’s member nations to agree to significant increases in defense spending.
Trump departed the White House en route to the Netherlands for a summit of NATO leaders Tuesday, Fox News reported. Trump posted Rutte’s message after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran held up after an exchange of missiles.
“Congratulations and thank you for your decisive action in Iran, that was truly extraordinary, and something no one else dared to do. It makes us all safer,” Rutte said in the message posted by Trump.
The United States struck facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan related to Iran’s effort to develop nuclear weapons early Sunday morning local time, using as many as 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators in the operation, which involved a 37-hour flight by seven B-2A Spirit bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
“You are flying into another big success in The Hague this evening,” Rutte added. “It was not easy but we’ve got them all signed onto 5 percent!”
The Trump administration pushed for NATO nations to increase their defense spending, with most nations agreeing to reach that funding benchmark. Trump criticized NATO members for not meeting their end of an agreement to spend at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Product on defense in February 2024, while on the campaign trail.
“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,” Rutte said in the message. “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!”
Trump also previously shared a text from Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, a former Baptist minister and Republican governor of Arkansas, according to The Associated Press. “I believe you will hear from heaven, and that voice is far more important than mine or ANYONE else’s,” Huckabee texted.
Trump lit into Israel and Iran over a near-resumption of hostilities during a press gaggle on the White House lawn Tuesday before departing for the NATO gathering.
“I’m not happy with them. I’m not happy with Iran either,” Trump told reporters. “But I’m really unhappy if Israel is going out this morning because the one rocket that didn’t land, that was shot, perhaps by mistake, that didn’t land, I’m not happy about that.” “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard, that they don’t know what the fuck they are doing,” Trump added.
Trump is expected to return to Washington Wednesday after the NATO summit.
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