Second day of the NATO summit in Ankara. When meeting the press, an ill- tempered Trump threw a tantrum. NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte listened carefully to his rants when Trump declared the sloppy, drafted-in-a-hurry, hardly celebrated (maybe by the Iranians) Memorandum of Misunderstanding with Iran was “over” after exchange of military strikes last night which technically ended the cease fire. The MoU was dead on arrival.

Breathless Trump called Iranians names (sick people, liars, scum, cancer) and explained that the U.S. had hit Iran 20 times harder last night. He quickly turned his wrath to NATO itself, claimed he had in mind to test NATO allies, despite not needing them. The failed the test, according to him.

Knowing, but ignoring, the fact that NATO is a defence alliance (and not Trump’s auxiliary troops whenever he wants to engage in a military adventure; nor are member states sort of a U.S. protectorate), he spoke to Germany, to France to Italy (for getting help in his and Israel’s unprovoked war on Iran with disastrous consequences not only for world economy), “but not to Spain” which then got his special treatment. “No trade business anymore” with Spain, Trump expressed his contempt (see Rutte’s smirk at 4:03). Spain is “a terrible partner, they don’t participate, they don’t pay.” Bad people as well. “No trade, no business with them anymore!”

Trump’s rant about NATO allies which are not ready to pay (which sounded like a broken record) was rebutted by Rutte albeit Trump’s facial expression suggested disbelief, see 8:30. Rutte even mentioned the five thousand airplanes having taken off European airports in support in the Iran war. That Trump apparently found laughable.

And then Greenland, “a big problem for us.” (When Trump mentions “us”, I am wondering, does he mean the U.S. or just himself, the majestic plural, the royal “we”.) Trump even referred to the complicated and, rather inglorious history of the icy, continent-size arctic island, Denmark, Nazi Germany, that the U.S. build military bases on Greenland in 1941 (10:42). Ultimately, U.S. returned Greenland to Denmark. “I wouldn’t have done that!”

Rutte reminded Trump that they had discussed the issue of Greenland and had reached an agreement earlier this year at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

My impression of the unhinged rant is that Trump has finally imploded after the numerous disasters of the previous days, being either big or irrelevant. It has ultimately become clear that the Iranians had actually won this unprovoked assault by the U.S. and Israel. The 250th Anniversary of American Independence was a flop. The Reflecting Pool charade. When few people showed for the Great American State Fair – Freedom 250. Also, Trump’s intervention in the FIFA soccer World Cup badly backfired. Right before everyone’s eyes – an Empire in decline.

Today’s headlines asked whether Trump would blow up NATO. He won’t blow up NATO. He uses it—as he has done his entire life—to bully and torment others (today, once again, an entire country: Spain) and to impose his will on them. He is, after all, a toxic narcissist.

Putting a stop to this requires a supreme effort from all involved—a concerted action by the democratically elected government representatives of the independent states within the defence alliance. If Trump escalates the Greenland issue again (I was surprised when Rutte had the guts today to point out that this topic had already been put to bed), he must be confronted with the consequence of a potential NATO exit. That is something he would understand.

This disgusting—even by Trump’s standards—and undignified sycophancy (such as giving away jerseys featuring Trump and the number 47) achieves nothing. As German Chancellor Friedrich Merz once said regarding a different issue (and one would strongly urge him to consider this now as well): That is not how you win elections.

I do not believe Denmark will be able to hold onto Greenland. But if it actually happens that Donald Trump orders an invasion of Greenland, the Europeans should blow up NATO.

I wonder if Trump could afford that before the midterms?

8 July 2026 @ 17:26 UTC+2.

Last Modified July 8, 2026.