Trump’s Familiar Mix of Flattery and Surprise
Few global leaders command attention quite like Donald Trump. Whether in or out of office, his remarks often blur the lines between diplomacy and showmanship. Over the years, Trump has praised India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as close allies while at times making startlingly candid comments about Pakistan. His recent appearance at the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt — convened to celebrate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas — once again revealed the same unpredictable blend of admiration, improvisation, and controversy. This time, Trump not only hailed Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir as his “favourite Field Marshal,” but also lauded Modi as a “very good friend who’s done a fantastic job,” creating a moment that left Pakistan’s Prime Minister visibly unsettled.
Trump’s Remarks: Praise and Provocation
Addressing a packed hall at the peace summit, President Trump began by commending Pakistan for its role in brokering the Gaza ceasefire. “Prime Minister Sharif of Pakistan — and I must say, my favourite Field Marshal from Pakistan, who is not here — they’ve done a great job,” he declared, thanking both leaders for their cooperation. His casual reference to General Asim Munir as a personal favourite drew murmurs across the hall, particularly as Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stood awkwardly behind him.
Trump quickly shifted tone, turning toward India. “India is a great country, and Prime Minister Modi is a very good friend of mine — he’s done a fantastic job,” he said, drawing applause. Then, in true Trumpian style, he pivoted abruptly and asked Sharif, “So, I think Pakistan and India are going to live very nicely together, right?” The visibly uncomfortable Sharif managed a strained smile as Trump continued, “They are, they are… both great leaders — great people.”
Pakistan’s Response and Attempt to Save Face
Later, taking the podium, Prime Minister Sharif tried to turn the moment around. He thanked Trump for what he called “stopping an India-Pakistan war” earlier in the year — a reference to tensions that followed India’s Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror bases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. Sharif went on to suggest that Trump deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for “saving millions of lives” in both South Asia and the Middle East.
Islamabad has repeatedly endorsed Trump’s claim of mediating peace between India and Pakistan, even though New Delhi has consistently maintained that the ceasefire understanding in May was the result of direct military talks between the two countries’ Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) — not U.S. intervention.
India’s Perspective: A Diplomatic Balancing Act
From India’s standpoint, Trump’s remarks reinforced a partnership that has steadily deepened over recent years. The U.S. President’s consistent public praise for Prime Minister Modi, whom he calls a “personal friend,” has become a hallmark of his approach to India. Days before the summit, the two leaders had spoken over the phone, with Modi congratulating Trump on the success of the Gaza peace plan and reviewing progress on trade negotiations.
Their frequent communication, bolstered by the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, has injected renewed momentum into bilateral ties. Gor’s recent visit to New Delhi included meetings with Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, where discussions centered on defence cooperation, critical minerals, and emerging technologies. Gor even presented Modi with a framed photo from their White House meeting, signed by Trump with the message, “Mr Prime Minister, you are great!”
Reading Trump’s State of Mind
Trump’s simultaneous praise for Modi and Munir reveals a familiar trait — his desire to project himself as a global dealmaker capable of bridging divides. His comments often blur diplomatic protocol, oscillating between warmth and provocation. The juxtaposition of praising India’s leadership while teasing Pakistan’s prime minister reflected both his improvisational instinct and a strategic bid for attention.
Observers suggest that Trump views such moments as political theatre — a stage where he alone plays peacemaker, friend, and disruptor all at once. Yet, beneath the bravado lies a calculated message: that U.S. influence remains central to peace-building in regions like South Asia and the Middle East. His remarks, though spontaneous, underline his ongoing ambition to be seen as a broker of global stability, even if his methods remain unconventional.
Between Optics and Diplomacy
Donald Trump’s speech at the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit once again demonstrated how personality-driven diplomacy can simultaneously charm and confound. His admiration for Narendra Modi reinforces India’s stature as a trusted U.S. partner, while his praise for Asim Munir highlights Washington’s continued balancing act with Pakistan.
For South Asia, the episode serves as a reminder that peace, however theatrically invoked, depends less on applause at summits and more on sustained engagement between nations. For Trump, it was another opportunity to remind the world — and perhaps himself — that he remains a force in global politics, a man who thrives at the intersection of praise, provocation, and performance.
(With agency inputs)
