Was Donald Trump Mocked by Dutch Royalty? What We Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
President Donald Trump appeared to be subtly mocked by Dutch royalty during a NATO summit in The Hague on Wednesday.
Trump was photographed alongside Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander at the Huis ten Bosch Palace shortly after arriving at the summit. Standing between the two royals, Trump flashed a thumbs-up and told photographers: "That's the picture we want!"
The King followed with a polite, "I hope you slept well," to which Trump replied, "It was great," smiling and thanking those present.
However, as the moment wrapped up, Queen Máxima appeared to mimic Trump's mouth movements before turning back to face the cameras.
Newsweek has contacted the Dutch royal household and the White House for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The incident potentially highlights ongoing tensions in Trump's relationships with European allies and raises fresh questions about how foreign leaders are responding to his re-emergence on the world stage. Moments like these could shape international perceptions and influence diplomatic dynamics.
President Donald Trump, center, poses with King Willem Alexander, left, and Queen Maxima, right, at the Huis ten Bosch Palace prior to attending a NATO summit, in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 25, 2025.
President Donald Trump, center, poses with King Willem Alexander, left, and Queen Maxima, right, at the Huis ten Bosch Palace prior to attending a NATO summit, in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 25, 2025.
Brendan Smialowski/AP
What To Know
The gesture, caught on video, has since fueled speculation online that the queen was mocking the president.
One user on X called the moment "hilarious," saying the Queen should "treat him like a baby." CNN News 18 editor Vani Mehrotra noted that Queen Máxima was "believed to be mocking" Trump
It is not the first time Trump has been mocked at a NATO summit. In 2019, a video emerged showing several world leaders appearing to joke about Trump during a NATO summit in London.
Queen Maxima mimicking Trump's mouth movements really got me pic.twitter.com/hCjVB9IIj0 — Polling USA (@USA_Polling) June 25, 2025
The footage, taken during a reception at Buckingham Palace, captured Boris Johnson, Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron in conversation. At one point, Johnson asked Macron, "Is that why he was late?" prompting Trudeau to chime in, "He was late because he takes a 40-minute press conference off the top."
Trudeau continued, "Oh, yeah, yeah yeah. He announced..." before Macron, speaking animatedly with his back to the camera, cut him off. Although Trump was never mentioned by name, the exchange appeared to refer to the U.S. president's lengthy remarks earlier that day.
At this week's NATO summit, world leaders officially signed off on a new pledge to raise defense and related spending to 5 percent of GDP in the next decade.
What People Are Saying
One person wrote on X: "This is hilarious! I've never been a fan of our stiff monarchy, but Queen Maxima rocks it! Treat him like a baby."
CNN News 18 Deputy News Editor Vani Mehrotra wrote on X."Did she really do that? Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is believed to be mocking US President Donald Trump, per this video and social media comments."
What Happens Next
Neither the Dutch Royal Family nor the White House have commented on the exchange.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
31 minutes ago
- Axios
Tampa Bay's new People's Pride rejects corporate, police ties
Concerned that St. Pete Pride has grown too corporate, a group of activist organizations say they want to return the celebration to its roots. Why it matters: The People's Pride Coalition will hold its inaugural Pride Night on Friday at a time of increasing skepticism of corporate-backed Pride events and marketing campaigns. The big picture: That's especially true this year, as major companies retreat from Pride sponsorships and participation amid President Trump's attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. "They're outing themselves as not truly supporting queer people," coalition member V Garcia told Axios. The wishy-washy approach also shows that relying on corporate support isn't sustainable, added coalition member Gabby Aguilera. Zoom in: The coalition — made up of local grassroots organizations including Tampa Democratic Socialists of America and the Justice Advocacy Network — formed in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks and the ensuing war that has so far killed more than 50,000 Palestinians. Organizers were troubled by the big-business sponsors underpinning St. Pete Pride, such as defense contractor GE Aerospace and phosphate mining firm Mosaic, which has a troubling environmental history in Tampa Bay. They've also taken issue with the festival's police presence, a wariness that's only grown as more law enforcement agencies, including St. Pete police, sign partnerships with federal immigration authorities. What they're saying:"It just goes directly against the roots and history of Pride," which began as an uprising, Aguilera said. The other side: St. Pete Pride leaders have heard the coalition's concerns "and recognize that the origins of Pride are rooted in protest and the ongoing fight for liberation and equity for all," president Byron Green-Calisch said in a statement to Axios. Police officers are there to "ensure the safety of the more than half a million attendees expected at our Pride events." "This is a necessity, not an endorsement," he said, adding that leaders "understand that it raises valid concerns for some." Between the lines: Coalition organizers recognize the need for security and that police are typically involved with closing off city streets for parades and similar events. Cutting ties is "not going to be a quick fix," Aguilera said. The nonprofit St. Pete Pride is also working on broadening its individual donor base, new executive director Bior Guigni told Axios in a previous interview. When it comes to corporate partnerships, her goal is to ensure that "it's not just a monetary exchange, but it's also a mission alignment," she said. The latest: While GE Aerospace and Mosaic are not listed among this year's sponsors, coalition members plan to continue putting pressure on the organization to meet their demands. And while they'll march in Saturday's Pride parade, coalition members organized Pride Night for folks who identify with their mission. If you go: The event is 6-10pm Friday at Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Pete. The lineup includes live music, drag performances, crafts, free food and a free store. A $5-15 donation is suggested but not required.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
EU Briefs Divided Leaders on Trump's Counterproposal on Tariffs
(Bloomberg) -- European Union leaders are discussing their response to President Donald Trump's latest proposal on trade after a briefing from Ursula von der Leyen. US Renters Face Storm of Rising Costs Philadelphia Transit System Votes to Cut Service by 45%, Hike Fares Mapping the Architectural History of New York's Chinatown Squeezed by Crowds, the Roads of Central Park Are Being Reimagined US State Budget Wounds Intensify From Trump, DOGE Policy Shifts The European Commission president told EU leaders at summit talks in Brussels on Thursday evening that she had received the latest US tariff offer, according to officials briefed on the discussion who declined to give any more detail. The question dogging the leaders and the commission, which handles trade matters for the bloc, is whether to accept an asymmetrical trade deal with the US or risk escalation by striking back, provoking Trump's ire. Several member states argued against retaliation, with most suggesting that reaching a quick deal with the US is better than holding out for a perfect one, even if many of Trump's tariffs remain in place, according to two people briefed on the discussions. But there's still division, with Paris categorically rejecting any deal skewed in favor of the US and pushing for a complete removal of tariffs, another official said. The EU needs to reach an agreement with Trump by July 9, when tariffs on nearly all of the bloc's exports to the US increase to 50%. The US president says the EU takes advantage of US with its goods surplus and perceived barriers to American trade. 'We hope that the discussions with the US continue in an energetic mood in the coming days — the July deadline is coming soon,' Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden told reporters on his way into the summit. 'I wish the commission good luck.' Detailed discussions with the US are taking place on both tariffs and non-tariff barriers, as well as on key sectors, strategic purchases and regulatory matters the EU is hoping to address through its simplification agenda, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The US is asking the EU to make what the bloc's officials see as unbalanced and unilateral concessions, Bloomberg reported earlier. Discussions on critical sectors — such as steel and aluminum, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and civilian aircraft — have been particularly difficult. Officials believe the best-case scenario remains an agreement on principles that would allow the negotiations to continue beyond an early July deadline. Alongside a 10% universal levy on most goods — which is currently facing a US court challenge — Trump has introduced 25% tariffs on cars and double that on steel and aluminum based on a different executive authority. He's also working to expand tariffs on other sectors, including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and commercial aircraft. Many of those duties are expected to stay, regardless of an agreement with the Trump administration, according to the people. The EU, which has been seeking a mutually beneficial deal, will assess any end-result and at that stage decide what level of asymmetry — if any — it's willing to accept. The EU's industry chief, Stephane Sejourne, told Bloomberg this week that the EU would need to respond to any tariffs — including a baseline 10% levy — with countermeasures. But some EU leaders, including Italy's Giorgia Meloni have indicated that they could live with some levies if it allows for a rapid deal that avoids an escalation in the conflict. 'When we discussed 10% with companies, it isn't particularly impactful for us,' Meloni told reporters in The Hague Wednesday after the NATO summit. 'I think a decision at 10% would enable us, as far as we're concerned, to keep working on things that we care about.' --With assistance from Charlie Duxbury, Olivia Fletcher, Michal Kubala, Lyubov Pronina, Maxim Edwards, Suzanne Lynch, Andrea Palasciano, Samy Adghirni, Donato Paolo Mancini, Jan Bratanic, Katharina Rosskopf and Sanne Wass. How to Steal a House Inside Gap's Last-Ditch, Tariff-Addled Turnaround Push America's Top Consumer-Sentiment Economist Is Worried Apple Test-Drives Big-Screen Movie Strategy With F1 Luxury Counterfeiters Keep Outsmarting the Makers of $10,000 Handbags ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Newsweek
33 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Trump's Immigration Approval Rating Hits New Low, Poll Shows
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump's approval rating on immigration has dipped to its lowest mark amid his second term in the White House, a new poll from Quinnipiac University finds. Why It Matters Immigration policy remains a defining issue for Trump's presidency after fueling his 2024 election pursuit. The president campaigned fervently last year on the promise of mass deportations and appointed Tom Homan as his border czar to execute his agenda. The administration's approach on deportations—including expanded enforcement raids, the use of military force and legal maneuvering—has intensified partisan divisions and sparked significant public protest, particularly in urban centers like Los Angeles. Federal immigration raids in Los Angeles this month led to large-scale protests, with demonstrations focused on downtown federal buildings. The unrest prompted Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, to implement a curfew for portions of the area after incidents of vandalism. What To Know In the new poll released on Thursday, the president has a 41 percent approval rating on immigration, with a 57 percent disapproval mark. The survey shows that 56 percent of voters also disapprove of the tactics employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), compared to 39 percent who approve. The poll was conducted from June 22 to June 24 among 979 "self-identified registered voters" across the country. The poll's margin of error is 3.1 percent. In a previous Quinnipiac poll, taken from June 5 to June 9, the president's approval rating on immigration was 43 percent with a disapproval score of 54 percent. This poll's margin of error was 2.8 percent. In an April poll, the president had an approval rating on immigration of 45 percent with the pollster and 46 percent in March and February polls. Shortly after his inauguration, the president came into his second term with a 47 percent approval rating on immigration and 46 percent disapproval. This poll was taken from January 23 to January 27, with a 3.1 percent margin of error. Thursday's poll marks Trump's lowest approval rating on the issue, per Quinnipiac, and representative of an overall slide for the president month over month. President Donald Trump speaks to the media at the start of the second day of the 2025 NATO Summit on June 25 in The Hague, Netherlands. (Photo by) President Donald Trump speaks to the media at the start of the second day of the 2025 NATO Summit on June 25 in The Hague, Netherlands. (Photo by) What People Are Saying Political analyst Craig Agranoff, to Newsweek via text message on Thursday: "Trump's approval rating on immigration dropping in the Quinnipiac poll likely stems from the polarized response to his administration's aggressive deportation policies and rhetoric, which have sparked significant public debate. "While it's hard to pinpoint one specific cause, the intensity of recent immigration measures may be driving this shift," Agranoff added. "As for whether Trump cares about public opinion on this issue, his track record suggests he prioritizes his base's support over broader approval, often framing immigration as a core issue to rally his supporters, regardless of fluctuating polls." Trump, earlier this month on Truth Social: "The Biden Administration and Governor Newscum flooded America with 21 Million Illegal Aliens, destroying Schools, Hospitals and Communities, and consuming untold Billions of Dollars in Free Welfare." Trump continued: "All of them have to go home, as do countless other Illegals and Criminals, who will turn us into a bankrupt Third World Nation. America was invaded and occupied. I am reversing the Invasion. It's called Remigration. Our courageous ICE Officers, who are daily being subjected to doxxing and murder threats, are HEROES. We will always have their back as they carry out this noble mission. America will be for Americans again!" Charlie Kirk, founder and president of conservative Turning Point USA, on X, formerly Twitter, this month: "President Trump has a positive net approval rating, and no other issue contributes to his popularity more than immigration: 'He is begging for a fight on immigration because he knows what he's doing so far is working with the electorate.' Bring it on, Democrats." What Happens Next With poll numbers showing rising public opposition, any policy shifts or legal decisions in the coming weeks may further influence national debate and future immigration enforcement measures.
