At the Gaza peace summit held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, former U.S. President Donald Trump made headlines once again — not for diplomacy, but for his remarks directed at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. During his address, Trump paused to point her out in the audience, saying, “You don’t mind being called beautiful, right?” before calling her “a beautiful young woman.” The former president went on to quip that, in the U.S., such a compliment could end a political career, adding, “But I’ll take my chances.”
Meloni, smiling at the unexpected attention, responded with laughter, while other leaders on stage appeared visibly amused. Trump followed up his comments by describing Meloni as an “incredible leader” and praising her growing influence in European politics. He said she represents strength and national pride, calling her leadership “inspirational” for Italy and beyond.
Observers noted that Meloni was the only woman leader standing among nearly 30 heads of state on the stage — a fact that made Trump’s comment stand out even more. The lighthearted exchange quickly went viral online, sparking debate about decorum in global diplomacy and the fine line between charisma and controversy that has long defined Trump’s public persona.
