Trump Shares NATO Chief’s Texts Praising ‘Decisive Action’ on Iran

NATO Secretary-General hails Trump’s military strikes and leadership; texts describe former U.S. president as “extraordinary.”
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday released a series of private text messages from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, in which the alliance leader praised Trump’s “decisive action” against Iran and described him as “extraordinary.”
The texts were sent in the wake of U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities earlier this week. The strikes, conducted in response to Iran’s alleged escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict, drew both global concern and praise from several NATO allies.
In one of the messages, Rutte reportedly wrote: “Your leadership under pressure is nothing short of extraordinary. You reminded our allies why the U.S. remains the indispensable force for peace through strength.” Trump captioned the screenshot: “The world knows who’s in charge when America is strong.”
Trump also claimed credit for pushing NATO member states to increase defense spending. “They weren’t paying their fair share. Now they are because they know I mean business,” he said during an interview.
While NATO has not formally commented on the leaked messages, a senior alliance official, speaking on background, confirmed their authenticity but emphasized that they reflected a personal exchange and not an official NATO statement.
European reaction to the U.S. strikes on Iran has been mixed, with France and Germany calling for restraint, while Eastern European allies voiced support for a firm stance against Iran’s military ambitions.
Mark Rutte, who took over the NATO role earlier this year, has long had a close working relationship with Trump, dating back to his time as Dutch Prime Minister. His remarks underscore the political capital Trump continues to wield internationally, especially in military and security circles.