Fact Check: Viral Clip Is A Parody By Dutch Comedian Remko Vrijdag — Not NATO’s Mark Rutte Or An AI Fabrication

A viral video that some accounts misidentified as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is actually a staged parody performed by Dutch comedian Remko Vrijdag. The clip is not the real Rutte, nor is it an AI-generated face. The video was posted to Vrijdag’s Instagram account and echoes earlier parody material the comedian has shared.

Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of video at instagram.com/remkovrijdag.

What Happened

The short clip appeared on Remko Vrijdag’s Instagram account on Jan. 20, 2026, with the caption "Rutte just got viral💨." In the video Vrijdag adopts Rutte’s mannerisms and delivers a satirical monologue that references former U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Syria.

Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of video at tiktok.com/@remkovrijdag/video/7428177930175450401.

Notable Excerpt

“Hi, it's Mark Rutte, here. Headquarters, NATO chief of staff. And I just got viral! Yaay! Because my good friend, Donald J. Trump, he re-posted, he retweeted a message from me to him about his great leadership concerning Syria.”

Why This Is A Parody — Not The Real Rutte Or AI

• Performer identity: The person in the clip is Remko Vrijdag, a Dutch comedian who frequently posts character sketches and impersonations.
• Visual cues: Vrijdag intentionally alters his appearance (shaving his usual whiskers, wearing frameless glasses, combing his hair) to resemble Rutte while performing a clearly theatrical sketch.
• Earlier example: An Oct. 21, 2024 TikTok post from Vrijdag shows an overlay of a real photo of Mark Rutte in the corner while Vrijdag performs the same impersonation, making it explicit that the content is a parody.
• False AI claim: Social-media reposts that labeled the clip as an AI-generated face are incorrect; the footage is a live impersonation by a known comedian.

Background On Remko Vrijdag

IMDb and other profiles describe Remko Vrijdag as a comedian, actor and writer known in the Netherlands for his work with the comedy group De Vliegende Panters and for television specials. His Instagram and TikTok grids show multiple Rutte impersonations dating back at least to 2024.

Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of Instagram profile page at instagram.com/remkovrijdag.

Verdict

The circulating video is a comedic impersonation by Remko Vrijdag, posted to his Instagram on Jan. 20, 2026, and it is not footage of Mark Rutte nor evidence of AI-generated media. Claims presenting the clip as the real NATO chief or as synthetic are false.