Fox News host Jesse Watters reignited a debate on Monday, October 27, 2025, by affirming on his evening show that people are referring to President Donald Trump as “daddy,” a nickname that has sparked criticism and historical comparisons to authoritarian figures.
“We’ve got the Europeans to pony up on their NATO dues and everybody’s calling Trump ‘daddy,'” Watters stated during the broadcast. This comment was made amidst ongoing discussions about NATO defense spending commitments from European allies.
The nickname has gained traction among Trump’s dedicated supporters, appearing at rallies, on social media, and even on merchandise. Watters often uses the term when discussing politicians and has previously shown enthusiasm for what he describes as Trump’s “dad strength.”
Far-right pundit Tucker Carlson contributed to the term’s popularity during an October 2024 rally in Duluth, Georgia. In his speech, Carlson described Trump’s behavior if re-elected, stating that the president would be angry and mentioning Trump giving opponents “a vigorous spanking,” prompting the crowd to chant “Daddy’s home” as Trump took the stage.
The 79-year-old president has embraced the nickname. At a June 2025 NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Secretary General Mark Rutte joked about strong language needed for alliance commitments, with Trump later stating that Rutte affectionately called him “daddy.”
The White House shared a video compilation from the summit set to Usher’s “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” which quickly gained traction on social media platforms.
Critics have expressed concern over the nickname’s implications, drawing parallels to fatherly titles used by historical leaders like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Kim Il Sung, and others. Opponents argue the term reflects a personality cult within the MAGA movement.
The Washington Post previously described the nickname as a mix of admiration, irony, and kink, noting its sexual overtones and associations with dominant roles in the BDSM community. Observers have noticed the sexual connotations, whether supporters are aware of them or not.
Before Watters’ broadcast, The Daily Beast received an email defending Trump’s interior design choices for the East Wing ballroom renovations, referring to the president as “DADDY” and accusing the publication of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Social media reactions followed Watters’ comments. One user questioned the frequency of “Daddy Trump” mentions before it requires therapy, while another suggested Watters investigate the term’s negative connotations abroad.
A Twitter user highlighted Watters’ unusual fixation on Trump as a father figure, calling it strange and referencing Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz’s assessment that MAGA supporters are simply weird. Commenters described Watters’ use of the nickname as inappropriate and fetishistic.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has mocked Watters for the term. In August 2025, Newsom’s office shared a video of Watters saying “daddy,” suggesting his interest was unwelcome. Newsom later told Watters to stop using the nickname, calling it disturbing.
Watters has also suggested Democrats need a “daddy” candidate for 2028 and expressed excitement about Trump enforcing deportations as a father figure. The paternal nickname has become a recurring theme in his broadcasts.
The controversy arises as Trump continues his second term following his 2024 election victory. The president has focused on NATO defense spending, urging European allies to meet their 2 percent of GDP defense spending commitments by 2024, a pledge made by all 28 member countries in 2014.
Despite the criticism, neither Watters nor Fox News has issued a statement addressing the nickname or its potential authoritarian implications. The term seems to have found a place within segments of Trump’s supporter base, regardless of historical parallels or psychological concerns raised.
