At the Gaza Peace Summit on 13 October in Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh, US President Donald Trump drew attention with personal remarks directed at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. While addressing fellow world leaders, Trump referred to the Italian leader as a “beautiful young woman”, before commending her political success and influence in Italy.

“I’m not allowed to say it because usually it’s the end of your political career if you say it… She is a beautiful young woman,” said President Trump, noting the sensitivity of such comments in American political discourse. “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.”

Looking back to make eye contact with Meloni, Trump added, “You don’t mind being called beautiful, right? Because you are. Thank you very much for coming. We appreciate it. She wanted to be here and she’s incredible and they really respect her in Italy. She’s a very successful, very successful politician.”

Meloni, 43, who has served as Prime Minister of Italy since 2022, was notably the only woman among more than 30 leaders standing on stage for the summit.

The gathering came just hours after a significant breakthrough between Israel and Hamas, involving the exchange of hostages and prisoners. The summit concluded with leaders signing a joint declaration to cement a ceasefire in Gaza and commit to long-term peace efforts.

President Trump hailed the development as a “monumental moment in the history of the world beyond the Middle East,” underscoring the international consensus on supporting Gaza’s reconstruction.

“We have all agreed that supporting Gaza must be done to lift up the people themselves,” he said. “But we don’t want to fund anything having to do with the bloodshed, hatred or terror as has happened in the past.”