Matthew Whitaker, the U.S. permanent representative to NATO, told Newsmax on Thursday that President Donald Trump was widely popular during the military alliance’s annual summit Wednesday at The Hague.

“I was again right there with him the entire time, and every single world leader from all 31 other NATO countries just wanted a handshake, just wanted a minute, a pull-aside, a chance to talk to him,” Whitaker, who was acting attorney general in Trump’s first administration, told “Finnerty.” “And it’s really quite extraordinary.”

In fact, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte referred to Trump as “daddy” when he and the president were talking about the Israel-Iran conflict and Trump’s harsh words against both nations before he brokered a ceasefire agreement that began Tuesday. “And daddy sometimes has to use strong language,” Rutte said, referring to Trump dropping the f-bomb while boarding Marine One on his way to the summit.

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