Overview

• The gesture took place during a June 26 breakfast reception at Huis ten Bosch palace, the designated accommodation for President Trump during the NATO summit in The Hague.
• Footage shows Queen Máxima replicating Trump’s characteristic smile, open mouth and tongue movement as photographers recorded the moment.
• Since its release, the clip has gone viral on platforms like X and YouTube, with some praising her spontaneity and others accusing her of mocking the president.
• Psychologists say unconscious facial mimicry is a natural reflex linked to empathy, leaving debate over whether Máxima’s action was deliberate or instinctive.
• The Dutch royal household has remained silent, issuing no public comment on the viral incident.