Trump mixes diplomacy and flattery at first Board of Peace meeting
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US President Donald Trump spent part of his speech rating some world leaders on their good looks, wealth and strength.
PHOTO: TIERNEY L. CROSS/NYTIMES
WASHINGTON – World leaders who accepted President Donald Trump's invitation to join his new Peace Board
While the US President has been chummy with world leaders in the past, he has typically leaned into a good-cop-bad-cop routine, alternating between praise and threats as his interests dictated. On Feb 19, those in attendance saw Mr Trump at his most convivial.
There was no hint of the criticised human rights records of some attendees. Only those who did not attend the board’s inaugural meeting in Washington received an ominous warning. “You can't play cute with me,” Mr Trump said.
A number of key US allies have declined to join the forum set up by Mr Trump in September 2025 for Gaza reconstruction, but which he hopes can become a global conflict-resolution body. Critics say it risks interfering with the work of the UN.
As leaders huddled for a group photo, the event’s soundtrack set the tone: James Brown’s 1966 song It's A Man’s Man’s Man’s World blared overhead.
Gaza is the board’s first priority, but the Middle East conflict was not discussed in detail by Mr Trump until 25 minutes into his welcome speech, as he focused first on complimenting the world leaders onstage, rating some of them on their good looks, wealth and strength.
Mr Trump recited the names of the world leaders in attendance, along with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, all of whom were seated on either side of him onstage, some with red MAGA hats placed on the table in front of them.
“President (Santiago) Pena of Paraguay is here,” Mr Trump said, pointing out the 47-year-old leader. “Young handsome guy. It's always nice to be young and handsome. Doesn’t mean we have to like you. I don’t like young, handsome men. Women I like. Men, I don't have any interest.”
Nonetheless, his interest in the male physique was apparent. At one point, he told the crowd to look at the “tough” face of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
Mr Trump also told stories in which he portrayed himself as having coerced leaders into doing what he wanted. He told the crowd how he had used threats of tariffs to pressure some countries, such as India and Pakistan, into ending conflicts. India has firmly rejected this assertion.
‘Beautiful’ people
The President suggested that his new board could overtake the UN in prominence.
“The Board of Peace is going to almost be looking over the United Nations... they need help,” Mr Trump said, digressing to recount a 2025 visit when he and First Lady Melania Trump were stuck on an escalator at the UN headquarters in New York.
“I was lucky my movie-star First Lady was in front of me, because I put my hand on a certain part of her body,” Mr Trump said of the incident.
In total, the US leader used the term “beautiful” at least 14 times in his speech to praise his administration’s work and the event space, which was named after him.
He said it was Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s idea to “surprise” him by renaming the US Institute of Peace, where the event on Feb 19 was held, in his honour.
“I didn’t know the surprise,” Mr Trump said. “I thought maybe they were going to give me a lot of money or something, maybe cash.” REUTERS
