US President Donald Trump has stirred fresh controversy after publicly calling Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “beautiful” during a Gaza peace summit in Egypt on Monday — a remark many critics say underscores his long history of sexist comments.
Addressing an international gathering of nearly 30 leaders, Trump, 79, turned away from his speech midway to gesture toward Meloni, the only woman on stage, and said:
“I’m not allowed to say it because usually it’s the end of your political career if you say it — she’s a beautiful young woman.”
“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.”
He then looked back at Meloni, 48, and added with a grin:
“You don’t mind being called beautiful, right? Because you are.”
Meloni’s immediate reaction was not captured on camera as Trump’s back blocked the view.
Trump continued, calling Meloni “incredible” and “very successful,” praising her leadership in Italy and her firm stance on cultural and immigration issues — areas where the two leaders share similar hard-right positions.
The comment overshadowed much of the summit’s diplomatic agenda, where participating countries signed a joint declaration pledging coordinated efforts to push forward a peace plan for Gaza.
This is not the first time Trump has faced criticism for remarks perceived as sexist. In September, a US appeals court upheld a jury’s $83.3 million penalty against him for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll, after he was found liable for sexually assaulting her.
While Trump appeared to frame his comments as playful defiance of “political correctness,” critics argue that such remarks reinforce the sexist undertones of his political persona — even on serious diplomatic stages.
