Trump at NATO: From ‘daddy’ comment to defending US strikes on Iran

President Donald Trump was in the Netherlands this week attending the NATO summit. 

But the uncertainty between Israel and Iran and the U.S. involvement was much at the forefront of reporter questions and Trump’s time there. 

Here’s what to know: 

Trump doubles down on damage to Iran sites

Big picture view:

President Trump doubled down Wednesday when taking questions from reporters about the damage he claims was done to the three Iranian nuclear sites by US strikes over the weekend. 

For context:

A leaked U.S. intelligence report suggested the U.S. strikes only set back Iran’s nuclear program by months, and was not "completely and fully obliterated" as President Donald Trump has said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has since said the leaked intelligence assessment, which said Iran suffered a delay of only a few months, was "preliminary" and "low confidence."

What they're saying:

Trump told reporters Wednesday at the NATO summit that the U.S. had collected additional intelligence since then and also spoken to people who had seen the site.  

"And the site is obliterated," he added. "And we think everything nuclear is down there; (Iran) didn’t take it out."

What's next:

Trump said the U.S. will talk with Iran next week, a surprise disclosure about the possibility of restarting dialogue between Tehran and Washington, after initially saying he wasn’t interested in restarting talks with the country. 

Meanwhile:

He also said he was confident the war between Israel and Iran was over and that the strikes would stop, claiming he knew both sides were "tired" and "exhausted."

"They fought very hard. I think the war ended, actually, when we hit the various nuclear sites with the planes," he said. 

RELATED: Israel-Iran updates: Ceasefire shaky as Israel says Iran launched more missiles

NATO Chief calls Trump ‘daddy’

Earlier:

A comment by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte raised eyebrows when he referred to President Trump as "daddy" when speaking about Trump’s use of an expletive the day earlier in displeasure at Israel and Iran. 

What they said:

Trump was comparing the countries to "two kids in a schoolyard" while speaking to media alongside Rutte. "They fight like hell. You can’t stop them. Let them fight for about two, three minutes. Then it’s easier to stop them," the US president said.

Rutte said: "And then daddy has to sometimes use strong language."

Trump added: "You have to use strong language, every once in a while, you have to use a certain word."

For context:

On Tuesday, Trump made news when he said, "We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing."

WATCH: Trump swearing video: Iran, Israel ‘don’t know what the f—’ they’re doing

Dig deeper:

Rutte defended his comment to reporters later when Sky News reporter brought up the comment and an earlier leaked text message between Trump and Rutte.

"Is this the way you feel you have to act when doing business with the U.S. president, through flattery and praise? Isn't it a bit demeaning, and doesn’t it make you look weak?" the reporter asked. 

"No, I don’t think so. I think it’s a bit of a question of taste, but I think he’s a good friend and I think when he is doing stuff (to get NATO leaders to agree to raise military spending) … doesn’t he deserve some praise? And when it comes to Iran, the fact that he took this decisive action, very targeted, to make sure that Iran would not be able to get its hands on nuclear capability - I think he deserves all the praise," Rutte said.

Later:

The same reporter asked Trump about the comment, and if he thinks of his NATO allies as "his children."

"No, he likes me, I think he likes me. If he doesn’t, I’ll come back and I’ll hit him hard," Trump jested. "He did it very affectionately, he - ‘You’re my daddy.’" 

NATO agrees to increase military spending

Big picture view:

The outcome of the day was that NATO leaders agreed on a massive hike in military defense spending, after pressure from Trump. 

By the numbers:

The spending hike requires countries to spend billions of dollars – 5% of GDP. 

It comes as the United States — NATO’s biggest-spending member — shifts its attention away from Europe to focus on security priorities elsewhere, notably in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific.

Russia remains the major threat in Europe.

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