World leaders converged in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on October 13, 2025, for a peace summit that many hoped would mark the end of one of the Middle East’s most intractable conflicts. The event, co-hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, saw the signing of a historic agreement between Israel and Hamas—a deal that followed the release of the last 20 Israeli hostages from Gaza and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, including 1,700 who had been held without charges over the past two years, according to BBC and the Daily Mail.
While the diplomatic breakthrough was significant, the summit itself quickly became a theater of awkward moments, unscripted remarks, and viral social media fodder. President Trump, in his characteristic style, dominated the proceedings—not just with his central role in the negotiations, but with a series of incoherent, sometimes embarrassing comments that left fellow world leaders and viewers alike scratching their heads.
At the outset, Trump described his arrival in Egypt with a puzzling anecdote: “But Air Force One was really—it was covered with Egyptian desert just a few months ago, if you think about it. Just a few months ago it was Egyptian desert, and now it was just a few feet off our window, and it was a spectacular sight, and I appreciate it very much.” As The Daily Beast noted, the meaning behind Trump’s words was unclear, and the moment set the tone for a summit where the line between diplomacy and spectacle often blurred.
The U.S. president’s unscripted style continued as he praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán—whose government has been widely criticized for undermining press freedom. “You are fantastic, all right? I know a lot of people don’t agree with me, but I’m the only one that matters. You are fantastic,” Trump declared. “He’s a great leader. I endorsed him in the last election he had, and he won by 28 points. You’re gonna do even better next time.” According to The Daily Beast, Trump’s remarks were met with visible discomfort from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who stood behind him with a pained expression as the U.S. president continued his praise for controversial leaders.
But the awkwardness didn’t stop there. In a moment that quickly became social media gold, Trump turned his attention to Meloni, offering a backhanded compliment on her appearance: “We have a woman, a young woman, who’s uh—I’m not allowed to say it ’cause it’s usually the end of your political career if you say it. She’s a beautiful young woman. Now 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.” Trump added that Meloni was very respected in Italy, though, as The Daily Beast pointed out, he seemed oblivious to the discomfort his comments caused.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also found himself the subject of a Trumpian gaffe, when the U.S. president mistakenly referred to him as the “president” of Canada. Carney, caught on a hot mic, joked, “I’m glad you upgraded me to president!” to which Trump replied with a laugh, “Did I say that? At least I didn’t say governor.” The exchange drew chuckles but underscored the informal—and at times chaotic—atmosphere of the summit.
Perhaps the most talked-about moment, however, belonged to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. As Trump addressed the world’s media, he called out, “Where is the United Kingdom? Come here,” referring to Starmer as “his friend.” Starmer, grinning, approached the stage, apparently expecting to be invited to speak. Instead, Trump greeted him with a brief, “Is everything going good?” to which Starmer replied, “Very good.” Without missing a beat, Trump turned his back and resumed his speech, leaving Starmer standing awkwardly before he sheepishly returned to his place in the line of world leaders. Italian Prime Minister Meloni, standing nearby, appeared amused by the exchange, and commentators like TalkTV’s Jeremy Kyle couldn’t resist poking fun at the UK leader’s embarrassment.
The incident quickly went viral, with social media users branding it an “epic” humiliation for Starmer. Memes comparing him to former Chelsea footballer John Terry—who famously donned his kit for a trophy celebration despite not playing in the final—circulated widely. One post on X (formerly Twitter) read, “LMAO. Trump just invited Keir Starmer to the stage, letting him think he was inviting him to speak, only to spurn him and send him to the back! I love it!” Another added, “It was epic how Trump embarrassed Keir Starmer on the world stage... Trump never forgets... EPIC!”
Despite the awkwardness, Starmer remained diplomatic, later praising Trump for his “tireless diplomatic efforts” and highlighting the UK’s potential role in monitoring the ceasefire and decommissioning Hamas’s weaponry, drawing on Britain’s experience in Northern Ireland. “Today is a really historic day, so we do need to start there, and real credit to President Trump and the other leaders who got us to this place,” Starmer told reporters. “But you’re absolutely right. The challenge now is tomorrow and implementation. And therefore yesterday is historic, but what happens tomorrow really matters.” He added, “The UK in particular can play a part in monitoring the ceasefire, but also decommissioning the capability of Hamas and their weaponry, drawing on our experience in Northern Ireland.”
The agreement itself, held aloft for the cameras by Trump, outlined “a comprehensive vision of peace, security, and shared prosperity in the region, grounded in the principles of mutual respect and shared destiny.” It welcomed the progress made toward “comprehensive and durable peace arrangements in the Gaza Strip,” and called for continued cooperation among Israel, its regional neighbors, and the broader international community.
The summit was not without controversy. UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson claimed the UK played a “key role” in securing the ceasefire, a statement dismissed as “delusional” by U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and bluntly rejected by Israeli officials. Still, some, like Trump administration envoy Steve Witkoff, singled out Britain’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell for his “incredible input.” Powell, who previously worked on the Northern Ireland peace process, was reportedly in regular contact with U.S. negotiators.
Starmer, for his part, was more circumspect about the makeup of the proposed Gaza peace board, which some reports suggested might include former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. “That’s for others to decide. Tony Blair was a great leader of our country, and would make a huge contribution. But I’m not focused on which particular people sit on which particular board. I’m focused on what do we need to do tomorrow, and I mean tomorrow, to make sure this is implemented,” he said.
The agreement’s implementation is far from assured. As Starmer noted, “Commitment to this plan from all parties will be essential to ending the war and building the foundations for a sustainable path to a long-term peace. The UK will support the crucial next stage of talks to ensure the implementation of the peace plan.”
For now, the world watches and waits. The summit delivered both a diplomatic milestone and a reminder of the unpredictability of international politics—where history is made not just by the deals signed, but by the personalities, gaffes, and human moments that play out on the global stage.