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'Stupid deal': 4 times Trump berated, mocked world leaders
While recent spats have received widespread media coverage, his arguments go as far back as his first term
- PUBLISHED: Sat 24 May 2025, 12:20 PM UPDATED: Sat 24 May 2025, 1:47 PM
US President Donald Trump is not known for holding back his opinions – or mincing his words. His comments frequently receive the spotlight and reactions from the international community, including world leaders.
His recent spats with world leaders have received widespread media coverage; however, his style of confronting world leaders goes as far back as his first term. Here are 4 times Trump made some scathing remarks and ambushed world leaders.
1. Ambushing South African President
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa came to the Oval Office in hopes of resetting his country's relationship with the US after aid was cancelled. Trump instead turned the White House into a theatre for his false claims of white genocide.
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His tools for this ambush? Good old-fashioned newspapers and a TV, which is not usually seen in the White House, according to Reuters.
Trump turned the lights down, and showed a series of videos, which he claimed were graves of white people, and opposition leaders making inflammatory speeches. He also leafed through newspaper articles, which showed "death and horrible death" according to the US President.
He alleged that white farmers in South Africa were having their land taken away, and being persecuted. To escape, these farmers were fleeing to America and other places, Trump added. His false claims have since been debunked; read it here.
To Ramaphosa's credit, he did not react explosively; instead, he asked Trump the location of these videos, and retaliated by pointing out that his Minister of Agriculture was a white man; if white genocide was occurring, a person of that race would not be in such a senior position. While crime occurs, it is general, rather than against a specific race, he added.
2. Shouting match with Zelensky
After years of war, the Ukrainian leader visited Trump in hopes of bringing some relief to the country facing immense destruction with a peace deal. But Trump and Vice President JD Vance responded with an almost team-like verbal assault on Volodymyr Zelensky, including questions about his clothing.
The spat started when Zelensky said "During the war, everyone has problems.... You don't feel now, but you will feel it in the future".
The US leader retaliated that Zelensky was not in any position to be making such statements and " was gambling with the lives of millions of people; gambling with World War 3."
It was at this moment that Vance jumped in to support the US President, asking the Ukrainian President: "Have you said thank you once?"
From then, it was the two US leaders talking over the Ukrainian President, pointing out the US military support, and repeatedly questioning Zelensky's apparent lack of gratitude.
The shouting match got intense reactions from across the political community, and saw Zelensky leaving in his motorcade shortly after, without holding a planned joint press conference.
3. Mocking leaders' reaction to tariffs
After Trump announced sweeping tariffs on several countries, stocks crashed, markets reacted, and a rippling effect took hold of the world economy. With countries hoping to make deals and broker trade agreements, Trump took to the mic to describe the leaders reactions.
And the US President did not mince his words. Although he did not specify names, he said countries are "kissing my a**".
Trump added that countries were calling him up and saying: "Please please sir make a deal, I'll do anything, I'll do anything, sir".
Trump has since then announced a 90-day pause on tariffs, bringing market relief, although he continues to threaten duties on economies.
4. 'Unpleasant call' with former Australian PM
Immigration has always been a contentious issue with Trump. As far back as 2017, the US President had a heated exchange with the then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over what Trump termed a "dumb deal".
The former Australian Prime Minister spoke of a deal made with former US President Barack Obama, which included letting refugees on to US soil.
When Trump questioned why Australia did not let these refugees into their own community, Turnbull answered: "It is not because they are bad people. It is because in order to stop people smugglers, we had to deprive them of the product."
While Trump agreed with that style of thinking, saying: "That is a good idea. We should do that too. You are worse than I am," he did not however wish to honour the agreement Obama made.
He turned on Turnbull, calling this "a stupid deal that he brokered, and added that he "guarantees that [Turnbull] broke many a stupid deal."
Trump added: "I think it is a horrible deal, a disgusting deal that I would have never made. It is an embarrassment to the United States of America."
After the long back-and-forth, Trump told Turnbull, “I have had it. I have been making these calls all day and this is the most unpleasant call all day. Putin was a pleasant call. This is ridiculous.”
