The Gaza ceasefire summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday was hailed by world leaders as a historic breakthrough and celebrated by U.S. President Donald Trump as a defining achievement of his second term. 

But the spectacle also served as a reminder that international diplomacy under Trump rarely goes according to script. 

Here’s the definitive collection of the impromptu flattery and awkward interactions that had leaders, diplomats, aides and social media scrambling and laughing in equal measure. 

‘Beautiful’ Meloni

In the middle of his remarks on stage, Trump turned to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and declared: “She’s a beautiful young woman.”

“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,” he added. He then addressed Meloni directly: “You don’t mind being called beautiful, right? Because you are.”  

Meloni was the only woman among roughly 30 world leaders on stage at the peace summit.  

Teasing Macron 

While Trump lavished praise on Meloni, he had a more playful message for his “good friend” French President Emmanuel Macron.  

On stage, Trump thanked Macron for his support, looked around — unsuccessfully at first — to find him, then added of the camera-friendly French leader: “I would imagine Emmanuel standing somewhere behind me … where is he? I can’t believe it, you’re taking a low-key approach today.”

The leaders burst into laughter, including Meloni who is known for her sometimes-frosty relationship with the French president.  

Trump quickly reassured the room: “He is my friend.” 

Moneybags 

When Trump spotted Manchester City owner and United Arab Emirates Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the summit, he couldn’t resist a quip about the man from the deep-pocketed petromonarchy.

“A lot of cash, unlimited cash! And he’s a good man, too … ” Trump beamed. 

Big ticket item 

Perhaps the most unusual guest appearance at the holiday resort was by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who posed for a photo with Trump and even joined the group snap with world leaders.

Next year’s World Cup will, of course, take place largely in the U.S. meaning there’s a joint incentive for Trump and Infantino to develop their bromance.

Trump light-heartedly needled Infantino about the price of entry to World Cup matches, joking to reporters: “He’s charging a lot for those tickets, huh?”

Entry to the first U.S. match will set fans back at least $560, while the cheapest World Cup final tickets are $2,030. At least Trump can afford that.

Up in smoke 

Whoever said European leaders weren’t friends? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s duty of care extended so far as urging Meloni to stop using tobacco. 

“You look great. But I have to make you stop smoking,” Erdoğan told her, something Macron said was “impossible.”

“I know, I know,” Meloni sighed, warning that quitting smoking could make her less sociable. “I don’t want to kill somebody.”

Cold mic moment 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, desperate to maintain good relations with Trump, darted to his side when the president asked on stage, “Where is the United Kingdom?” 

As Starmer appeared ready to address the crowd, the U.S. president instead said “it’s very nice that you’re here” before resuming his own speech … and forcing Starmer to take the longest few steps away from the podium.

What was he going to say? We’ll never know.

Guessing game 

Another thing we’ll never know — or maybe we will, actually! — is the list of names in Trump’s black book.

Right in front of his fellow world leaders, the U.S. president admitted, “I have a couple I don’t like in particular, but I won’t tell you who.”

The drama continued when Trump added, “I have actually a few of them I don’t like at all. You’ll never find out who they are.”

In gold dust for hacks, he then speculated, “Or maybe you will.” Such a tease. 

Oh, Canada 

While Trump has repeatedly clashed with other world leaders, the summit was largely a time for bonhomie.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney jumped in to thank Trump for accidentally calling him the president. “I’m glad you upgraded me,” Carney grinned. 

“Oh, did I?” Trump joked, eager to have the last laugh, before adding, “At least I didn’t say governor.” That quip was aimed at Carney’s predecessor Justin Trudeau, who Trump trolled at length during his two terms as U.S. president.

Trudeau, for his part, was unlikely to be paying too much attention given his other priorities right now.

Orbán’s bows  

In a bizarre scene, Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán slowly emerged from behind a cluster of leaders and offered a low, deliberate bow to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who was in mid-conversation with former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Observers were left guessing: Was it formal protocol, a gesture of flattery, or simple diplomatic confusion? Or perhaps an inside joke.

Praise or warning? 

If Orbán was bowing, Trump took a blunter approach to the Azerbaijani leader.

“You don’t want him as an enemy,” Trump noted, delivering his signature mix of praise and caution when discussing a strongman leader, as he posed for a photo alongside the mustachioed Aliyev.  

Family matters

Sharm el-Sheikh really was the networking event beyond compare.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was caught on hot mic asking Trump for a meeting with Eric Trump, an executive vice president of the Trump Organization. 

His tycoon-turned-politician father willingly obliged, saying “I’ll have Eric call. Should I do that? He’s such a good boy.”