NASA’s control room recorded the team’s surprise during the mission livestream, although the cameras did not pick up the flashes. According to the astronauts, the flashes were white or blue-white and lasted less than a second. The cameras they were using to document the moon weren’t fast enough to record them.
Lunar surface replete with craters generated by meteorite collisions.
Photograph: NASA
The crew was flying between 6,000 and 7,000 kilometers away. Under normal conditions, these impacts would have gone unnoticed. However, at the time they were studying the solar eclipse, which left the far side of the moon completely dark. That extreme contrast allowed them to distinguish the brief flashes that emerged from the surface.
Before the trip, the Artemis II team trained to identify possible meteorite impacts on the moon. They immediately recognized what they were seeing and reported it according to their protocols. NASA later confirmed that these were natural collisions on the satellite, a scenario they have been monitoring for years. The agency has not yet released a statement, but the conversation was recorded on the YouTube livestream.
It was during this solar eclipse that the astronauts saw most of the impact flashes.
Photograph: NASA
The Problem of Meteorites on the Moon
Since the idea of building permanent lunar bases first arose, different teams have assessed the risks to future inhabitants. Today, the two major challenges are “moonquakes” and meteorite impacts. For the former, there are plans to install seismographs to help understand the phenomenon. For the meteorites, astronomers already know the approximate frequency, and observations such as the six recent flashes help to refine existing models.
On Earth, the atmosphere destroys most meteorites before they reach the ground. Only the larger ones make it through, and it’s a rare scenario. The moon lacks that protective layer, which means any fragment of space rock ends up impacting the surface. The hundreds of millions of lunar craters prove it.
In space exploration, even small objects can pose a risk. For example, a micrometeorite traveling at tens of kilometers per second can puncture thin materials or damage essential equipment. Fragments whose surface area exceed centimeters act as high-energy projectiles, similar to bullets, and could compromise a habitat. Objects larger than 1 meter across generate craters; while they’re extremely rare, they pose a real risk.
NASA’s control room recorded the team’s surprise during the mission livestream, although the cameras did not pick up the flashes. According to the astronauts, the flashes were white or blue-white and lasted less than a second. The cameras they were using to document the moon weren’t fast enough to record them.
Lunar surface replete with craters generated by meteorite collisions.
Photograph: NASA
The crew was flying between 6,000 and 7,000 kilometers away. Under normal conditions, these impacts would have gone unnoticed. However, at the time they were studying the solar eclipse, which left the far side of the moon completely dark. That extreme contrast allowed them to distinguish the brief flashes that emerged from the surface.
Before the trip, the Artemis II team trained to identify possible meteorite impacts on the moon. They immediately recognized what they were seeing and reported it according to their protocols. NASA later confirmed that these were natural collisions on the satellite, a scenario they have been monitoring for years. The agency has not yet released a statement, but the conversation was recorded on the YouTube livestream.
It was during this solar eclipse that the astronauts saw most of the impact flashes.
Photograph: NASA
The Problem of Meteorites on the Moon
Since the idea of building permanent lunar bases first arose, different teams have assessed the risks to future inhabitants. Today, the two major challenges are “moonquakes” and meteorite impacts. For the former, there are plans to install seismographs to help understand the phenomenon. For the meteorites, astronomers already know the approximate frequency, and observations such as the six recent flashes help to refine existing models.
On Earth, the atmosphere destroys most meteorites before they reach the ground. Only the larger ones make it through, and it’s a rare scenario. The moon lacks that protective layer, which means any fragment of space rock ends up impacting the surface. The hundreds of millions of lunar craters prove it.
In space exploration, even small objects can pose a risk. For example, a micrometeorite traveling at tens of kilometers per second can puncture thin materials or damage essential equipment. Fragments whose surface area exceed centimeters act as high-energy projectiles, similar to bullets, and could compromise a habitat. Objects larger than 1 meter across generate craters; while they’re extremely rare, they pose a real risk.
#Artemis #Astronauts #Witnessed #Meteorites #Colliding #Moonspace,nasa,moon,spacecraft,artemis,asteroids,astronauts">Artemis II Astronauts Witnessed 6 Meteorites Colliding With the Moon
During their flyby of the far side of the moon, the Artemis II astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft saw as many as six flashes emerging from the lunar surface. Surprisingly, they were witnessing small meteorites impacting the ground and producing brief flashes of light.
NASA’s control room recorded the team’s surprise during the mission livestream, although the cameras did not pick up the flashes. According to the astronauts, the flashes were white or blue-white and lasted less than a second. The cameras they were using to document the moon weren’t fast enough to record them.
Lunar surface replete with craters generated by meteorite collisions.
Photograph: NASA
The crew was flying between 6,000 and 7,000 kilometers away. Under normal conditions, these impacts would have gone unnoticed. However, at the time they were studying the solar eclipse, which left the far side of the moon completely dark. That extreme contrast allowed them to distinguish the brief flashes that emerged from the surface.
Before the trip, the Artemis II team trained to identify possible meteorite impacts on the moon. They immediately recognized what they were seeing and reported it according to their protocols. NASA later confirmed that these were natural collisions on the satellite, a scenario they have been monitoring for years. The agency has not yet released a statement, but the conversation was recorded on the YouTube livestream.
It was during this solar eclipse that the astronauts saw most of the impact flashes.
Photograph: NASA
The Problem of Meteorites on the Moon
Since the idea of building permanent lunar bases first arose, different teams have assessed the risks to future inhabitants. Today, the two major challenges are “moonquakes” and meteorite impacts. For the former, there are plans to install seismographs to help understand the phenomenon. For the meteorites, astronomers already know the approximate frequency, and observations such as the six recent flashes help to refine existing models.
On Earth, the atmosphere destroys most meteorites before they reach the ground. Only the larger ones make it through, and it’s a rare scenario. The moon lacks that protective layer, which means any fragment of space rock ends up impacting the surface. The hundreds of millions of lunar craters prove it.
In space exploration, even small objects can pose a risk. For example, a micrometeorite traveling at tens of kilometers per second can puncture thin materials or damage essential equipment. Fragments whose surface area exceed centimeters act as high-energy projectiles, similar to bullets, and could compromise a habitat. Objects larger than 1 meter across generate craters; while they’re extremely rare, they pose a real risk.
#Deadspin #Twins #pursue #sweep #4game #set #Tigers">Deadspin | Twins pursue sweep of 4-game set against Tigers
Apr 8, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (25) hits a double during the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins already have secured their first series victory of the season.
Now they are eager to complete a four-game sweep.
Minnesota will aim for its fourth straight win when it faces the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis. The Twins are coming off an 8-6 win over the Tigers on Wednesday night, which followed a 4-2 victory on Tuesday and a 7-3 triumph in the series opener on Monday.
Meanwhile, Detroit is eager to stop an early-season slide.
The Tigers have lost eight of 12 games to start the season, including each of their past four contests. They are 2-7 on the road.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch knows that something needs to change for his team, which has ambitions to win the American League Central and competing for the World Series after making the playoffs each of the past two years.
“Team-wise, you’re always pushing to play winning baseball,” Hinch said. “Right now, we haven’t done that. We’re trying to find ways to get back to our brand of baseball that produces those wins without overreacting.”
Colt Keith and Kevin McGonigle have fared well at the plate, but many Tigers hitters have struggled to open the season. Hinch acknowledged that players who have a slump at the start of the season receive disproportionate attention as someone who hits a midseason lull.
“It’s a tricky time when you look at guys coming out of the spring,” Hinch said. “They’re hot or they’re cold, or they run into some bad luck or don’t get something to fall, and there’s the psychology that comes with the big board putting your numbers up there.”
Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty (0-1, 7.56 ERA) will try to help his team avoid the sweep. He is looking to improve his command after issuing four walks in each of his first two starts of the season.
In his 2026 debut, Flaherty allowed three runs (two earned) in 4 1/3 innings in a loss to the San Diego Padres on March 29. He did not last any longer on Saturday in his start against the St. Louis Cardinals, who touched him up for five runs on three hits in four-plus innings.
Flaherty is 0-1 with a 4.37 ERA in four career starts vs. Minnesota.
Twins right-hander Mick Abel (0-2, 11.05 ERA) will try to bounce back from a turbulent start to the season when he gets the ball on Thursday.
Abel gave up five runs in 3 1/3 innings in a long-relief appearance against the Baltimore Orioles in his season debut on March 29. He allowed four runs in a four-inning start against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
Abel, 24, never has faced the Tigers in his brief career.
Twins manager Derek Shelton praised his players for their success so far against Detroit, especially for putting up eight runs on 10 hits in five-plus innings on Wednesday against two-time All-Star Framber Valdez.
“A four-game series, winning the first three against a team that’s a really good team in our own division (is great),” Shelton said. “Yeah, it was a little bit closer than we expected, but I was really proud of our group.”
Trump’s strong views on Nato and Greenland understandably carry extra weight in Denmark, where political parties are still locked in talks to form a new government after last month’s election.
The question of Greenland’s future is not going anywhere anytime soon, and our Nordic correspondent Miranda Bryant spoke recently to a Greenlandic pro-independence politician elected to the new Danish parliament.
Qarsoq Høegh-Dam is the first member of the pro-independence Naleraq to be elected to the Danish parliament. Photograph: Sebastian Elias Uth/Reuters
Qarsoq Høegh-Dam is clear that if all goes to plan, the largely autonomous Arctic territory will be the sole responsibility of the parliament in Nuuk, the island’s capital. And there will no longer be any need for two seats representing Greenland in Copenhagen, its former colonial ruler.
Read Miranda’s piece here:
Morning opening: Trump lashes out against Nato after Rutte says president is ‘clearly disappointed’ with allies
Jakub Krupa
The US president, Donald Trump, has once again lashed out against Nato after a tense and lengthy meeting with the alliance’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, who admitted Trump was “clearly disappointed” with allies over their refusal to get involved in Iran.
Nato secrertary general Mark Rutte arrives at the White House for a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Photograph: Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty Images
In another angry ALL CAPS post on social media overnight, Trump said:
“NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!”
In reality, though, the only time Nato has ever triggered its collective defence clause in Article 5 was after 9/11 in the US, and the allies, in fact, were very much there when the US needed them.
It’s quite telling that despite repeatedly being told off for this very narrative by several European leaders, Trump keeps doubling down on this (factually incorrect) claim.
From Rutte’s comments to CNN last night, it’s clear that the meeting was very tense as he pointedly did not deny that Trump threatened to pull out of the alliance, as also suggested by the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.
Ever a diplomat – although his critics often say he is positioning himself too close to Trump with his over-the-top praise for his impact on the alliance – Rutte said that the president was “clearly disappointed” and made that clear in a “very frank, very open” discussion between “two good friends”.
“He clearly told me what he thought of what happened over the last couple of weeks,” he said.
“But at the same time, I was also able to point him to the fact that the large majority of European nations has been helpful with basing, with logistics, with overflights, with making sure that they live up to the[ir] commitments,” he said.
The Wall Street Journal reported (£) overnight that “the White House is considering a plan to punish some members of the Nato alliance that President Trump thinks were unhelpful to the US and Israel during the Iran war.”
Rutte in effect declined to comment on this report, saying instead that “not all European nations lived up to those commitments, and I totally understand that he is disappointed” and repeatedly praising Trump’s broader leadership (going even as far as claiming that the world is safer now than before the Iran war.)
But he still insisted it was a “nuanced” picture and “a large majority of European countries, and that’s what we discussed today, have done what they promised” they would.
It remains to be seen if he actually convinced Trump at all. We will hear from Rutte again later today as he is due to deliver a speech in Washington late afternoon.
Elsewhere, I will bring you the latest updates from Hungary, just days before a key parliamentary vote on Sunday. As the US vice-president, JD Vance, left the country after his repeated endorsement of Viktor Orbánwhich is obviously very much not interfering with the election, not at all, the attention turns back to domestic campaign.
It’s Thursday, 9 April 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Trump’s strong views on Nato and Greenland understandably carry extra weight in Denmark, where political parties are still locked in talks to form a new government after last month’s election.
The question of Greenland’s future is not going anywhere anytime soon, and our Nordic correspondent Miranda Bryant spoke recently to a Greenlandic pro-independence politician elected to the new Danish parliament.
Qarsoq Høegh-Dam is the first member of the pro-independence Naleraq to be elected to the Danish parliament. Photograph: Sebastian Elias Uth/Reuters
Qarsoq Høegh-Dam is clear that if all goes to plan, the largely autonomous Arctic territory will be the sole responsibility of the parliament in Nuuk, the island’s capital. And there will no longer be any need for two seats representing Greenland in Copenhagen, its former colonial ruler.
Read Miranda’s piece here:
Morning opening: Trump lashes out against Nato after Rutte says president is ‘clearly disappointed’ with allies
Jakub Krupa
The US president, Donald Trump, has once again lashed out against Nato after a tense and lengthy meeting with the alliance’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, who admitted Trump was “clearly disappointed” with allies over their refusal to get involved in Iran.
Nato secrertary general Mark Rutte arrives at the White House for a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Photograph: Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty Images
In another angry ALL CAPS post on social media overnight, Trump said:
“NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!”
In reality, though, the only time Nato has ever triggered its collective defence clause in Article 5 was after 9/11 in the US, and the allies, in fact, were very much there when the US needed them.
It’s quite telling that despite repeatedly being told off for this very narrative by several European leaders, Trump keeps doubling down on this (factually incorrect) claim.
From Rutte’s comments to CNN last night, it’s clear that the meeting was very tense as he pointedly did not deny that Trump threatened to pull out of the alliance, as also suggested by the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.
Ever a diplomat – although his critics often say he is positioning himself too close to Trump with his over-the-top praise for his impact on the alliance – Rutte said that the president was “clearly disappointed” and made that clear in a “very frank, very open” discussion between “two good friends”.
“He clearly told me what he thought of what happened over the last couple of weeks,” he said.
“But at the same time, I was also able to point him to the fact that the large majority of European nations has been helpful with basing, with logistics, with overflights, with making sure that they live up to the[ir] commitments,” he said.
The Wall Street Journal reported (£) overnight that “the White House is considering a plan to punish some members of the Nato alliance that President Trump thinks were unhelpful to the US and Israel during the Iran war.”
Rutte in effect declined to comment on this report, saying instead that “not all European nations lived up to those commitments, and I totally understand that he is disappointed” and repeatedly praising Trump’s broader leadership (going even as far as claiming that the world is safer now than before the Iran war.)
But he still insisted it was a “nuanced” picture and “a large majority of European countries, and that’s what we discussed today, have done what they promised” they would.
It remains to be seen if he actually convinced Trump at all. We will hear from Rutte again later today as he is due to deliver a speech in Washington late afternoon.
Elsewhere, I will bring you the latest updates from Hungary, just days before a key parliamentary vote on Sunday. As the US vice-president, JD Vance, left the country after his repeated endorsement of Viktor Orbánwhich is obviously very much not interfering with the election, not at all, the attention turns back to domestic campaign.
It’s Thursday, 9 April 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
#Nato #wasnt #Iran #Trump #tense #meeting #Rutte #Europe #live">Nato ‘wasn’t there’ over Iran, Trump says after tense meeting with Rutte – Europe live
Key events
Trump’s strong views on Nato and Greenland understandably carry extra weight in Denmark, where political parties are still locked in talks to form a new government after last month’s election.
The question of Greenland’s future is not going anywhere anytime soon, and our Nordic correspondent Miranda Bryant spoke recently to a Greenlandic pro-independence politician elected to the new Danish parliament.
Qarsoq Høegh-Dam is the first member of the pro-independence Naleraq to be elected to the Danish parliament. Photograph: Sebastian Elias Uth/Reuters
Qarsoq Høegh-Dam is clear that if all goes to plan, the largely autonomous Arctic territory will be the sole responsibility of the parliament in Nuuk, the island’s capital. And there will no longer be any need for two seats representing Greenland in Copenhagen, its former colonial ruler.
Read Miranda’s piece here:
Morning opening: Trump lashes out against Nato after Rutte says president is ‘clearly disappointed’ with allies
Jakub Krupa
The US president, Donald Trump, has once again lashed out against Nato after a tense and lengthy meeting with the alliance’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, who admitted Trump was “clearly disappointed” with allies over their refusal to get involved in Iran.
Nato secrertary general Mark Rutte arrives at the White House for a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Photograph: Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty Images
In another angry ALL CAPS post on social media overnight, Trump said:
“NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!”
In reality, though, the only time Nato has ever triggered its collective defence clause in Article 5 was after 9/11 in the US, and the allies, in fact, were very much there when the US needed them.
It’s quite telling that despite repeatedly being told off for this very narrative by several European leaders, Trump keeps doubling down on this (factually incorrect) claim.
From Rutte’s comments to CNN last night, it’s clear that the meeting was very tense as he pointedly did not deny that Trump threatened to pull out of the alliance, as also suggested by the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.
Ever a diplomat – although his critics often say he is positioning himself too close to Trump with his over-the-top praise for his impact on the alliance – Rutte said that the president was “clearly disappointed” and made that clear in a “very frank, very open” discussion between “two good friends”.
“He clearly told me what he thought of what happened over the last couple of weeks,” he said.
“But at the same time, I was also able to point him to the fact that the large majority of European nations has been helpful with basing, with logistics, with overflights, with making sure that they live up to the[ir] commitments,” he said.
The Wall Street Journal reported (£) overnight that “the White House is considering a plan to punish some members of the Nato alliance that President Trump thinks were unhelpful to the US and Israel during the Iran war.”
Rutte in effect declined to comment on this report, saying instead that “not all European nations lived up to those commitments, and I totally understand that he is disappointed” and repeatedly praising Trump’s broader leadership (going even as far as claiming that the world is safer now than before the Iran war.)
But he still insisted it was a “nuanced” picture and “a large majority of European countries, and that’s what we discussed today, have done what they promised” they would.
It remains to be seen if he actually convinced Trump at all. We will hear from Rutte again later today as he is due to deliver a speech in Washington late afternoon.
Elsewhere, I will bring you the latest updates from Hungary, just days before a key parliamentary vote on Sunday. As the US vice-president, JD Vance, left the country after his repeated endorsement of Viktor Orbánwhich is obviously very much not interfering with the election, not at all, the attention turns back to domestic campaign.
It’s Thursday, 9 April 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
#Deadspin #Blue #Jackets #Buffalo #focus #making #late #playoff #push">Deadspin | Blue Jackets head to Buffalo with focus on making late playoff push
Apr 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Jason Zucker (17) celebrates his goal against the New York Rangers during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
With four regular-season games remaining, the Columbus Blue Jackets are desperately trying to stay in playoff contention as they prepare to visit the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night.
The Blue Jackets (39-27-12, 90 points) are two points out of the playoff picture in both the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference wild-card standings. They trail the Philadelphia Flyers for third in the division and the Ottawa Senators for the final wild-card spot.
Columbus snapped a six-game losing streak (0-5-1) with a 4-3 shootout win over the host Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night, a game in which the Blue Jackets twice came from behind to tie the contest.
The Blue Jackets and Red Wings were tied in the wild-card race going into the game.
“We had to win that game,” Columbus coach Rick Bowness said. “That was a great hockey game between two teams that are obviously very evenly matched.”
Defenseman Zach Werenski scored the shootout winner and had a goal and an assist in regulation as he played more than half the game’s 65 minutes (33:26).
“This is obviously a massive win,” said Werenski, who grew up in suburban Detroit, rooting for the Red Wings. “We were just focusing on Detroit, but now we’ll take the good stuff from this game and build off it for Buffalo.”
Adam Fantilli made Werenski’s shootout heroics possible by tying it 3-3 with 17 seconds left in regulation with goaltender Jet Greaves pulled for the extra attacker.
“We got it to overtime, and then Jet was huge in overtime and the shootout,” Fantilli said.
The shootout was tied 2-2 after four rounds. Greaves then stopped James van Riemsdyk’s attempt before Werenski ended it.
With 80 points (22 goals, 58 assists), Werenski joins Phil Housley and Brian Leetch as the only U.S.-born defensemen to reach that mark in consecutive seasons.
The Sabres (48-23-8, 104 points), who have already clinched a playoff berth, moved into first place alone in the Atlantic Division with a 5-3 road win over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens are each two points back of Buffalo, each with a game in hand on the Sabres.
“It’s a tight race right there for first in the Atlantic,” Buffalo winger Alex Tuch said. “We want to do whatever we can to try to increase our, I guess, lead now. I guess we’re in first now, but obviously two really good teams chasing us. Just want to stack up some wins, get some points, continue to push and get ready for the playoffs.”
Buffalo will play two of its final three regular-season games at home.
“It feels like we’ve been in a tight race since December,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “A tight race to get in the picture, then a tight race to move up the standings, and now it’s a tight race to stay up the standings. Our division has been incredibly tough. You look at the strings of games that Montreal put together. You look at Tampa Bay had a real nice run. And we’re all sitting there together.”
Buffalo rallied for the win on Wednesday with third-period goals by Tuch (his 31st), Jason Zucker and Zach Benson’s second of the game, which came into an empty net. Zucker also had an assist in the game.
Apr 8, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (25) hits a double during the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images 
![Nato ‘wasn’t there’ over Iran, Trump says after tense meeting with Rutte – Europe liveKey eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureTrump’s strong views on Nato and Greenland understandably carry extra weight in Denmark, where political parties are still locked in talks to form a new government after last month’s election.The question of Greenland’s future is not going anywhere anytime soon, and our Nordic correspondent Miranda Bryant spoke recently to a Greenlandic pro-independence politician elected to the new Danish parliament.Qarsoq Høegh-Dam is the first member of the pro-independence Naleraq to be elected to the Danish parliament. Photograph: Sebastian Elias Uth/ReutersQarsoq Høegh-Dam is clear that if all goes to plan, the largely autonomous Arctic territory will be the sole responsibility of the parliament in Nuuk, the island’s capital. And there will no longer be any need for two seats representing Greenland in Copenhagen, its former colonial ruler.Read Miranda’s piece here:ShareMorning opening: Trump lashes out against Nato after Rutte says president is ‘clearly disappointed’ with alliesJakub KrupaThe US president, Donald Trump, has once again lashed out against Nato after a tense and lengthy meeting with the alliance’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, who admitted Trump was “clearly disappointed” with allies over their refusal to get involved in Iran.Nato secrertary general Mark Rutte arrives at the White House for a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Photograph: Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty ImagesIn another angry ALL CAPS post on social media overnight, Trump said:
“NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!”
In reality, though, the only time Nato has ever triggered its collective defence clause in Article 5 was after 9/11 in the US, and the allies, in fact, were very much there when the US needed them.It’s quite telling that despite repeatedly being told off for this very narrative by several European leaders, Trump keeps doubling down on this (factually incorrect) claim.From Rutte’s comments to CNN last night, it’s clear that the meeting was very tense as he pointedly did not deny that Trump threatened to pull out of the alliance, as also suggested by the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.Ever a diplomat – although his critics often say he is positioning himself too close to Trump with his over-the-top praise for his impact on the alliance – Rutte said that the president was “clearly disappointed” and made that clear in a “very frank, very open” discussion between “two good friends”.“He clearly told me what he thought of what happened over the last couple of weeks,” he said.“But at the same time, I was also able to point him to the fact that the large majority of European nations has been helpful with basing, with logistics, with overflights, with making sure that they live up to the[ir] commitments,” he said.The Wall Street Journal reported (£) overnight that “the White House is considering a plan to punish some members of the Nato alliance that President Trump thinks were unhelpful to the US and Israel during the Iran war.”Rutte in effect declined to comment on this report, saying instead that “not all European nations lived up to those commitments, and I totally understand that he is disappointed” and repeatedly praising Trump’s broader leadership (going even as far as claiming that the world is safer now than before the Iran war.)But he still insisted it was a “nuanced” picture and “a large majority of European countries, and that’s what we discussed today, have done what they promised” they would.It remains to be seen if he actually convinced Trump at all. We will hear from Rutte again later today as he is due to deliver a speech in Washington late afternoon.Elsewhere, I will bring you the latest updates from Hungary, just days before a key parliamentary vote on Sunday. As the US vice-president, JD Vance, left the country after his repeated endorsement of Viktor Orbán which is obviously very much not interfering with the election, not at all, the attention turns back to domestic campaign.It’s Thursday, 9 April 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.Good morning.Share#Nato #wasnt #Iran #Trump #tense #meeting #Rutte #Europe #live](https://wp.fifu.app/wolfnewss.com/aHR0cHM6Ly9pLmd1aW0uY28udWsvaW1nL21lZGlhLzE3MjNjNmMyZmJjMmZlMDBkNDNjM2Q0YTI4N2NlZTE3ZGM0YzlkYTcvMjY0XzBfMjE4OF8xNzUwL21hc3Rlci8yMTg4LmpwZz93aWR0aD0xMjAwJmhlaWdodD02MzAmcXVhbGl0eT04NSZhdXRvPWZvcm1hdCZmaXQ9Y3JvcCZwcmVjcm9wPTQwOjIxLG9mZnNldC14NTAsb2Zmc2V0LXkwJm92ZXJsYXktYWxpZ249Ym90dG9tJTJDbGVmdCZvdmVybGF5LXdpZHRoPTEwMHAmb3ZlcmxheS1iYXNlNjQ9TDJsdFp5OXpkR0YwYVdNdmIzWmxjbXhoZVhNdmRHY3RiR2wyWlM1d2JtYyZlbmFibGU9dXBzY2FsZSZzPWJhN2YzMzVjZDIxNGIxZTRlZWQ2NjAwYzdhNDc5NzM4/d83f165e1319/nato-wasnt-there-over-iran-trump-says-after-tense-meeting-with-rutte-europe-livekey-eventsshow-key-events-onlyplease-turn-on-javascript-to-use-this-featuretrump.webp?w=0&h=0&c=0&p=124981 "Nato ‘wasn’t there’ over Iran, Trump says after tense meeting with Rutte – Europe liveKey eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureTrump’s strong views on Nato and Greenland understandably carry extra weight in Denmark, where political parties are still locked in talks to form a new government after last month’s election.The question of Greenland’s future is not going anywhere anytime soon, and our Nordic correspondent Miranda Bryant spoke recently to a Greenlandic pro-independence politician elected to the new Danish parliament.Qarsoq Høegh-Dam is the first member of the pro-independence Naleraq to be elected to the Danish parliament. Photograph: Sebastian Elias Uth/ReutersQarsoq Høegh-Dam is clear that if all goes to plan, the largely autonomous Arctic territory will be the sole responsibility of the parliament in Nuuk, the island’s capital. And there will no longer be any need for two seats representing Greenland in Copenhagen, its former colonial ruler.Read Miranda’s piece here:ShareMorning opening: Trump lashes out against Nato after Rutte says president is ‘clearly disappointed’ with alliesJakub KrupaThe US president, Donald Trump, has once again lashed out against Nato after a tense and lengthy meeting with the alliance’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, who admitted Trump was “clearly disappointed” with allies over their refusal to get involved in Iran.Nato secrertary general Mark Rutte arrives at the White House for a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Photograph: Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty ImagesIn another angry ALL CAPS post on social media overnight, Trump said:
“NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!”
In reality, though, the only time Nato has ever triggered its collective defence clause in Article 5 was after 9/11 in the US, and the allies, in fact, were very much there when the US needed them.It’s quite telling that despite repeatedly being told off for this very narrative by several European leaders, Trump keeps doubling down on this (factually incorrect) claim.From Rutte’s comments to CNN last night, it’s clear that the meeting was very tense as he pointedly did not deny that Trump threatened to pull out of the alliance, as also suggested by the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.Ever a diplomat – although his critics often say he is positioning himself too close to Trump with his over-the-top praise for his impact on the alliance – Rutte said that the president was “clearly disappointed” and made that clear in a “very frank, very open” discussion between “two good friends”.“He clearly told me what he thought of what happened over the last couple of weeks,” he said.“But at the same time, I was also able to point him to the fact that the large majority of European nations has been helpful with basing, with logistics, with overflights, with making sure that they live up to the[ir] commitments,” he said.The Wall Street Journal reported (£) overnight that “the White House is considering a plan to punish some members of the Nato alliance that President Trump thinks were unhelpful to the US and Israel during the Iran war.”Rutte in effect declined to comment on this report, saying instead that “not all European nations lived up to those commitments, and I totally understand that he is disappointed” and repeatedly praising Trump’s broader leadership (going even as far as claiming that the world is safer now than before the Iran war.)But he still insisted it was a “nuanced” picture and “a large majority of European countries, and that’s what we discussed today, have done what they promised” they would.It remains to be seen if he actually convinced Trump at all. We will hear from Rutte again later today as he is due to deliver a speech in Washington late afternoon.Elsewhere, I will bring you the latest updates from Hungary, just days before a key parliamentary vote on Sunday. As the US vice-president, JD Vance, left the country after his repeated endorsement of Viktor Orbán which is obviously very much not interfering with the election, not at all, the attention turns back to domestic campaign.It’s Thursday, 9 April 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.Good morning.Share#Nato #wasnt #Iran #Trump #tense #meeting #Rutte #Europe #live")
