Donald Trump has caused controversy once again as he made a comment about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that some deemed to be "disgusting".
Trump was talking at a summit in Sharm el‑Sheikh on 13 October following the announcement of a ceasefire deal being agreed between Israel and Hamas.
Despite the serious nature of the gathering of world leaders, Trump opted to take a less serious tone at times, which has drawn criticism from viewers.
Trump’s Remark About Meloni Draws Fire
During the event, set against the backdrop of formal speeches and ceasefire-signing, Trump singled out Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with a comment that nearly guaranteed headlines.
He prefaced it with self-awareness: “I’m not allowed to say it because usually it’s the end of your political career if you say it,” then turned toward Meloni and added: “She’s a beautiful young woman.”
He continued: “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.”
Directing his words at Meloni, he asked: “You don’t mind being called beautiful, right? Because you are.”
Meloni - standing behind him - did not visibly respond on camera. But viewers around the globe were quick to weigh in, especially online, where many expressed disgust.
One X (formerly Twitter) user blasted: “This is a way of making her small and invisible, and making people laugh while he does it, while seeming like he’s giving her a compliment. It’s cruddy to the core.”
The same user continued: “No one introduces a male leader and talks about how handsome they are. It’s disgusting.”
Another wrote: “Does he start with going on about how handsome he thinks men are in professional capacities? She’s dealing with him in a professional capacity, not as a contestant in one of his beauty contests.” And then: “It’s inappropriate to make any comments about her looks. It’s just creepy.”
A New Video Adds to the Embarrassment: Starmer’s Summit Misfire
Trump’s stumble with Meloni wasn’t his only misstep at the summit. A newly surfaced video chronicled what some interpreted as an equally awkward moment involving UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
In a busy press-conference moment, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney approached Trump, apparently to chat. Starmer walked over, smiled, and waited - but was interrupted before he could speak. He found himself standing beside Trump without a word.
That wasn’t the first awkward moment of the day. Earlier, Trump - having arrived late after meeting freed hostages in Israel - delivered a long address, naming countries one by one, while Starmer waited offstage.
At one point, Trump called out: “Where is the United Kingdom? Come here,” prompting Starmer to quip: “Behind you as usual.”
He walked forward, shook hands, and exchanged pleasantries.
Trump asked: “Is everything going good?” and Starmer replied: “Very good.”
Yet instead of ceding the mic, Trump simply turned away and resumed speaking - leaving Starmer to head back to his place in a very awkward manner.