The Gaza ceasefire summit held in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday was widely recognized by world leaders as a historic breakthrough, earning special commendation from U.S. President Donald Trump, who hailed it as a defining achievement of his second term.
However, the event underscored the unpredictable nature of international diplomacy under Trump’s administration, often veering away from scripted expectations.
Presidential moments and candid interactions at the summit created a blend of humor and awkwardness, resulting in laughter and surprise among leaders, diplomats, aides, and observers alike.
In a notable highlight, Trump turned to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his speech, complimenting her by saying, “She’s a beautiful young woman.”
He added, “If you use the word ‘beautiful’ in the United States about a woman, that’s the end of your political career, but I’ll take my chances,” and asked Meloni if she minded being called beautiful, to which she appeared unfazed and appreciative.
Meloni stood out as the only woman among the roughly 30 world leaders present at the summit.
In a playful exchange with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump expressed gratitude for his support while humorously checking for his whereabouts.
He initially struggled to locate Macron on stage, jokingly wondering where he was and making light of the French leader’s low-key appearance that day.
This generated laughter from the audience, including Meloni, who is often known for her frosty relations with Macron.
Trump then reassured the gathering, declaring, “He is my friend.”
When the U.S. leader caught sight of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Manchester City owner and UAE Vice President, he couldn’t resist teasing about his wealth, stating, “A lot of cash, unlimited cash! And he’s a good man, too …”
The presence of FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the summit added a unique dynamic, as he posed for photos with Trump and participated in the group photo with other world leaders.
With next year’s World Cup primarily hosted in the U.S., Trump made light of Infantino’s high ticket prices, joking, “He’s charging a lot for those tickets, huh?”
The cost for entry to the first U.S. match is at least $560, while the cheapest tickets for the World Cup final start at $2,030, which wouldn’t be an issue for Trump to afford.
In a curious moment, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan approached Meloni with a health tip, advising her to quit smoking.
Erdoğan praised her appearance while expressing concern. “You look great. But I have to make you stop smoking,” he urged her, which Macron chimed in was “impossible.”
Meloni sighed, acknowledging the challenge, and humorously noted that quitting might make her less sociable, stating, “I don’t want to kill somebody.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, keen to maintain good relations with Trump, rushed to his side when the president inquired, “Where is the United Kingdom?”
As Starmer appeared ready to speak, Trump quickly interjected with praise, saying, “It’s very nice that you’re here,” before returning to his speech, leaving Starmer stranded on stage.
The mystery of Trump’s black book also played out in front of his esteemed peers, as he candidly revealed, “I have a couple I don’t like in particular, but I won’t tell you who.”
He continued, fueling intrigue, “I have actually a few of them I don’t like at all. You’ll never find out who they are,” teasing the audience with the possibility of revealing their identities in the future.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney took a moment to thank Trump for mistakenly calling him president, to which Trump responded with jest, “Oh, did I? At least I didn’t say governor,” in reference to his previous interactions with Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau.
In a rather peculiar scene, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán made an unexpected appearance by bowing deliberately to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who was preoccupied with a conversation with former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Speculation arose regarding the reason for Orbán’s bow — whether it was a matter of protocol, a gesture of respect, or simply confusion in diplomatic interactions.
Trump, in contrast, took a direct approach when addressing Aliyev, making sharp remarks concerning his appearance and even cheekily questioning why he had ‘no hair’ and an ‘extremely small’ crown.
While discussions regarding Middle East peace were underway, Trump’s candid comments and playful interactions seemed to keep the atmosphere lively and light-hearted.
As world leaders engaged in both serious talks and lighter exchanges, the summit encapsulated the complex dynamics of international diplomacy under the Trump administration, filled with humor, blunders, and unexpected camaraderie.
As the world awaits the results of the Nobel Peace Prize assessment, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed confidence in Trump’s contributions to peace efforts, stating, “He deserves it,” just a day before the announcement of the prize winner.
image source from：politico
