The serious business of signing the Thailand-Cambodia peace agreement took on a lighter mood as Southeast Asian leaders used the moment to heap praise – and some gentle ribbing – on US President Donald Trump.
“I was in prison, but you almost got there,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said during his opening remarks, nodding to what he described as commonalities between himself and Trump.
Anwar served time over charges of corruption and sodomy – charges he claims were false and politically motivated. Trump was convicted last year of felony charges linked to a hush-money payment to influence the outcome of the 2016 election, a verdict the US president disputes.
The Malaysian leader also said Trump was “delighted to break the rules” on security protocols earlier that day to offer Anwar a ride to the gathering in his limousine. “It was a nice ride,” he added.
Hun Manet, Cambodia’s prime minister, reiterated his nomination of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in resolving his country’s five-day conflict with Thailand in July. Trump has long coveted the honor, which is bestowed annually, most recently earlier this month.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul thanked Trump for his “personal dedication” to peace between the two countries.
An initial ceasefire between the two countries brokered in Malaysia was signed on July 28 after the US president held calls with leaders on both sides. He warned then that he would not make trade deals with either if the conflict continued – a threat that came as both faced elevated tariffs from the US under Trump’s global trade war.
Trump also kept the mood light at Sunday’s ceremony.
He recounted speaking over the phone with the three Southeast Asian leaders over the July conflict while at his golf resort in Scotland.
“I said, this is much more important than playing a round of golf, so we sat there all day long, making phone calls,” he said.
“You cost me very good entertainment… but this is much more fun for me… because you’re saving people.”