King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands have described their recent state visit to the United States as an opportunity to frankly communicate disagreements with President Donald Trump, saying they were able to "indicate where the sticking points lie" during a dinner and overnight stay at the White House. The visit, which formed part of a broader working trip to the US, had prompted controversy in the Netherlands — including a government admission that the timing felt "uncomfortable" — given Trump's recent hostile rhetoric toward Europe and inflammatory remarks about Iran. Speaking at a closing press event in Florida, the king nonetheless defended the trip, emphasising the importance of maintaining dialogue with Washington and noting that the US remains a critical guarantor of Dutch security and economic partnership.