The Gaza summit: a stage for praise, insults, and the 'Art of the Deal'
Imagine a summit where the world's leaders gather, not just to discuss global issues, but to be judged, praised, and sometimes subtly (or not so subtly) insulted by one man. That was the scene at the largely symbolic Gaza summit in Sharm el-Sheikh. But here's where it gets controversial: the main event wasn't the discussions, but the performance of Donald Trump as he greeted his fellow global leaders.
Trump, arriving fashionably late (over two hours, to be exact), set the tone. He seemed less concerned with the summit's purpose and more interested in playing the role of the 'greatest peacemaker'.
First up for Trump's unique brand of flattery was Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's vice-president. Trump, with a grin, complimented Mansour's 'lovely shoes' and, pointing at him, added, 'A lot of cash, bundles of cash.' A self-evident truth, indeed, met with a polite smile.
Next, Giorgia Meloni, the only woman at the otherwise all-male event, received an unexpected compliment. Trump said, 'In the United States, it would be the end of your political career. But I’ll take the risk. Do you mind if I say you’re beautiful? Because you truly are beautiful.' This was in stark contrast to Meloni's earlier encounter with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who told her she looked 'great' but advised her to 'not smoke so much.'
Trump had high praise for Erdoğan, calling him 'tough.' He painted a picture of a leader who was a blend of Genghis Khan and Greta Garbo. Trump stated, 'Erdoğan possesses one of the strongest armies in the world... He is a tough person, but he is my friend, and he is always there when I need him.'
Another leader to receive Trump's approval was Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. Trump, seemingly oblivious to Sisi's outstretched hand, lauded him as a 'strong leader' and a 'general.' He went on to praise Egypt's low crime rate, contrasting it with the United States, where he blamed 'state governors who don’t know what they’re doing.'
Even Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister, who seemed to be there for reasons other than the EU, was favored. Trump declared, rolling the 'r', 'I know a lot of people don’t agree with me, but I am the only one that matters.' The reactions of the other world leaders behind him, including Keir Starmer, were telling.
Less fortunate was the Iraqi prime minister, Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani. Trump described Iraq as a country 'with so much oil it does not know what to do with it.' And with that, Sudani was dismissed.
Keir Starmer found himself in an unexpected role. Trump asked where the UK representative was, and Starmer raised his hand, adding, 'Right behind you as usual.' Instead of a chance to speak, he was thanked for his presence and directed to return to the shadows.
Emmanuel Macron also suffered. Trump, surprised to find Macron in the audience rather than on stage, quipped, 'I can’t believe it, you’re taking a low-key approach today. I imagined you standing behind me.'
Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, corrected Trump's remarks, pointing out that he had been promoted to president. Trump retorted, 'You are fortunate I did not call you governor.'
Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistani prime minister, seemed to know how to handle the host. He showered Trump with praise, so much so that Trump tried to read the speech, only to be pushed back by Sharif. Sharif said, 'India and Pakistan are nuclear powers, and had it not been for his and his wonderful team’s intervention... a devastating war might have erupted... History has immortalized his name in golden letters.'
And this is the part most people miss: The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, chose to skip the event altogether, perhaps sensing the potential for drama.
So, what do you think? Did Trump's approach to diplomacy work? Or was it a spectacle that undermined the summit's goals? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
