Trump extols Merz, impressionably captivated by his sun-kissed complexion during vacation - Trump commends Chancellor Merz on his sun-kissed appearance during holiday season
At the White House in Washington, US President Donald Trump gathered European heads of state and government, the heads of the EU and NATO, around a long rectangular table for a significant Ukraine summit. Among the attendees was Friedrich Merz, the German Chancellor, who had flown from Munich for the event, interrupting his summer vacation.
During the summit, Trump referred to Merz as his "friend," a "very strong personality," and a "very strong leader." In an unexpected moment, Trump complimented Merz on his appearance, saying, "You look fantastic with your tan." The sources do not provide specific details about how or where Merz obtained the tan, but it was likely from a recent sunny vacation or time spent outdoors prior to the summit.
Trump's compliment was noted as unusual praise and slightly irritating to some attendees. However, Trump seemed genuinely impressed, even going so far as to express a desire to have a tan like Merz's.
In addition to Merz, Trump also praised Giorgia Meloni, Italy's Prime Minister, as a "really great leader." Alexander Stubb, the Finnish President, was called a "young powerful man" by Trump.
The gathering followed a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukraine summit was a live-blogged event, with journalists able to hear the opening statements of all participants, which is unusual on an international level.
Despite the lack of information about the purpose of the Ukraine summit, the event provided an interesting moment of camaraderie between world leaders, with Trump's unexpected compliment to Merz serving as a memorable highlight.
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