President Donald Trump threw a tablet across the Oval Office in frustration when technical difficulties prevented him from joining a group call with Canada's then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The incident reportedly occurred during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the White House in February 2025, about two weeks into Trump's second term. The two leaders were using the device to participate in a call led by Trudeau when they encountered technical issues. Trump, annoyed by the problem, threw the tablet over the Resolute Desk and onto the floor, the Journal reported, citing an official present.
The report, published on Sunday, also revealed that in January 2025, nearly 30 European leaders held a secret emergency meeting in Brussels to discuss reducing dependence on the US. The meeting came as Trump threatened to use military force to take Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark. One leader compared the gathering to group therapy, a source told the Journal.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, dubbed the “Trump whisperer,” employed flattery to maintain the alliance, a tactic European press called “flattery diplomacy.” Rutte urged other leaders to deliver Trump a “win” by disguising increased defence spending as a Trump victory. Leaders began copying Trump's syntax and hyperbole in text messages, with Finland's president and Norway's prime minister “workshopping” their messages, discussing which words to capitalise.
However, by late summer 2025, the flattery tactic had lost its effectiveness. During a White House visit to forge a peace deal for Ukraine, leaders realised they could not secure Trump's support for the Western position. One attendee described the meeting as “an excruciating experience,” signalling the limited influence of America's allies on the current administration.
