(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump has asserted that NATO leaders are fully aligned with his vision, crediting his leadership for what he described as a sharp revival in America's global influence.

Speaking in a Tuesday interview with a media organization, Trump declared that the United States had transformed from a “dead country” into “the hottest country anywhere in the world by far” within just a few months of his administration taking office.

“That was told to me by every leader of NATO, which they do whatever I want,” he said, adding that leaders in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar had expressed similar praise. “I’m very happy to help,” Trump continued.

For years, Trump has pressed NATO members to boost defense spending, warning that the US would not come to the aid of allies that failed to meet agreed-upon funding levels. At a major NATO summit held in July, member states committed to raising defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, a significant jump from the previous 2% target.

Trump also revealed that the European Union had agreed to cover “100% of the cost of all [American-made] military equipment” under a new financial arrangement, noting that “much of it will go to Ukraine.”

During the summit, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte referred to Trump as “daddy [who] has to sometimes use strong language,” after the US president likened the conflict between Israel and Iran to a schoolyard fight and said “they don’t know what the f*ck they’re doing” in reference to mutual ceasefire violations during their 12-day war in June.

The “daddy” comment quickly drew criticism in Western media, with some accusing Rutte of “orchestrated groveling” and labeling the episode as “one of the most shameful episodes in modern history.”

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