Pushback: Dutch prime minister warns Europeans to stop 'whining' about Trump, focus on Ukraine

Outgoing Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte is imploring Europeans to "stop whining" about Donald Trump and focus on supporting Ukraine. 

"We should stop moaning and whining and nagging about Trump," Rutte said during the Munich Security Conference, according to Reuters.

He didn't say who he would prefer as president in 2024, but said, "It's up to the Americans. I'm not an American, I cannot vote in the U.S. We have to work with whoever is on the dance floor." 

While Rutte will be exiting his role as prime minister soon, he is the leading candidate to be the next secretary-general of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).

Trump sparked some outrage in Europe after he stated that if re-elected as president, he would not defend members of NATO who failed to meet defense spending targets, according to The Associated Press. 

Rutte said he agrees with Trump's analysis, saying the former president is "completely right."

Rutte said Europe needs to shift its focus to supporting Ukraine as it has been at war with Russia for almost two years. 

"And all that whining and moaning about Trump. I hear that constantly over the last couple of days. Let's stop doing that," Rutte said. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently invited Trump to Ukraine while speaking at the Munich Security Conference.

The U.S. has been providing aid to Ukraine amid its ongoing war in Russia that began in 2022. 

Earlier this week, the Senate passed a $95.3 billion foreign aid package that would give Ukraine $60 billion, but it is expected to have a difficult time passing the House. 

Rutte sparked some controversy with his remarks on Trump on the social media platform, X. 

"Haaahahaha, they wanna date Trump now," one user wrote on social media. 

Other users spoke out in support of Rutte's comments. 

"He’s not wrong," another user wrote.