As dawn breaks in Spain, the White House occupants and their guests in Washington are likely still in the REM phase of sleep. If they have been able to sleep on such an exceptional night, where the Kings Willem and Máxima of the Netherlands have enjoyed the honor of staying overnight at the official residence of the President of the United States. This is a privilege within reach of very few international leaders, confirming both the close relationship between Donald Trump and the Oranges, as well as the fascination that the Republican president feels towards the Monarchy, something that nations like the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and especially the Gulf nations are taking advantage of, while others like Spain, for political reasons that are well known, are completely left out.
If someone in the Trump couple or the Dutch royal couple snores, they probably disrupted the other's rest. They slept so close to each other that it's not surprising that the press, both in the Netherlands and the United States, dubbed this night as a "pajama party". Because Willem-Alexander and Máxima stayed in the so-called Lincoln Bedroom, very close to Trump's quarters. It is one of the most emblematic rooms in the White House, where the famous president who issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring slaves free in the rebellious Confederate states used to sleep. It was also where Theodore Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge had their beds.
For a leader to stay, as we say, at the White House is exceptional. It is something that does not even happen during the State visits that Washington receives. For example, the United States already has everything prepared for the historic arrival next week of Kings Charles III and Camilla, and the British sovereigns will stay at Blair House, the presidential residence across from the White House.
Willem and Máxima are on a working visit -diplomatically below a State visit- that is taking them to Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Miami. But Trump has made this gesture towards them as a return for the one the monarchs had with him during the NATO summit in The Hague last June. At that time, they urged him to stay overnight at the Huis ten Bosch Palace, which he gladly did, instead of going to sleep at a hotel in the city of Noordwijk, as planned. This also allowed them to share relaxed private moments like breakfast, in a relaxed atmosphere where they could speak frankly about issues outside the public agenda. It is the soft diplomacy so important and often so effective that European monarchs usually deploy with skill.
But this visit of the Dutch kings to Washington is surrounded by controversy. Many of their fellow citizens consider it very untimely and conveying a mixed message from the Oranges. It has come amid the war in Iran -including escalating rhetoric towards Iran in recent hours- and at a time when Trump is being particularly harsh in his attacks on Europe and specifically on NATO partners. However, it cannot be overlooked that their Secretary-General is the former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who, by agreeing with him on everything and flattering him to exhaustion, has won Trump over, and who of course maintains a very direct line with King Willem-Alexander, with whom he has regular audiences.
A recent poll in the Netherlands showed that the visit of the sovereigns to Trump completely divides the citizens. 44% were against it days ago, almost the same percentage as those who supported it, based on the strong bond between the Oranges and the Republican which is a strong point for Dutch foreign policy that they should undoubtedly take advantage of.
Willem and Máxima were received with honors by the Trump couple at the entrance of the White House on Monday evening. Trump described his guests as "highly respected". Willem-Alexander commented on something about the tulips in the garden. After the protocol greetings and a very warm reception that lasted much longer than expected, as reported by sources due to the president's interest in conversing with his guests, an unofficial dinner took place. However, it was of such importance that the Dutch Prime Minister, Rob Jetten, who is newly appointed and has a progressive and very Europeanist ideology, joined the dinner.
"It was a very pleasant evening", Jetten concluded after the dinner on his way to his hotel, as the invitation to stay overnight at the White House was limited to the royal couple. It was not a summer camp, after all.
According to the Prime Minister, during the three-course dinner, numerous topics were discussed, from Iran to Ukraine and NATO. He described the evening as "open and constructive, where no one had to beat around the bush". Jetten said he understood that "many Dutch people feel uncomfortable" with the visit. However, he emphasized that "it is positive to maintain a dialogue in these times of tension". At the same time, he noted that he sensed some resentment on the American side for how Europe had handled the American security umbrella with such complacency. According to Jetten, differences of opinion were exposed but not resolved. "It was too brief to convince each other," as reported by the newspaper De Telegraaf.