PARIS
CNN
—
Foreign leaders’ visits to the White House used to be occasions for face-to-face diplomacy, allied backslapping and polite photo ops.
But President Donald Trump’s public pillorying of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in February has upended Oval Office norms, sparking panic among some foreign leaders.
“You’re not acting all that thankful,” Trump scolded Zelensky, with Vice President JD Vance piling on in front of the international press.
As the Ukraine leader pushed for more help in the country’s war with Russia, Trump at one point threatened to give up on Ukraine entirely, the meeting devolving into little more than a shouting match.
Foreign dignitaries took that visit – as well as Trump’s unfounded accusations of genocide against South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and tense exchanges with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney – as a sign that Oval Office visits in Trump’s second term called for a different type of preparation.
Five former senior diplomats who have handled preparations for these types of meetings likened Trump’s White House to a boxing ring or a TV set.
The dignitaries said leaders should now mentally prepare for diplomatic “jiu jitsu,” trolling or even “North Korean” style adulation. And never, ever say Trump is wrong in front of a camera.
“You never contradict Trump publicly, because he will lose face and that’s something that he can’t accept,” said Gérard Araud, who was France’s ambassador to the US during Trump’s first presidency.
There are signs ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned White House visit Monday that even he is looking to avoid any chance of a fight, despite his close relationship with Trump. After Trump said Tuesday that he planned to be “very firm” with Netanyahu on the need for a ceasefire in Gaza, an Israeli official indicated they accepted the terms of a 60-day ceasefire proposal about 24 hours later.
Trump 2.0
For Lithuania’s former foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Oval Office visits from foreign leaders are “chances for Trump to portray himself as this alpha leader, you know, pushing aside others and belittling others,” he told CNN. “This is a show.”
Trump himself indicated the last point as his meeting with Zelensky ended, quipping: “This is going to be great television.”
Arturo Sarukhán, Mexico’s former ambassador to Washington, described the meetings as “diplomatic vandalism and trolling.”
Foreign dignitaries say Trump 2.0 is at a different level even compared to his first term. In 2017 he was, “learning the ropes of government. And I think he was learning the boundaries of his power,” said Joe Hockey, former Australian ambassador to the US.
Ex-French envoy Araud said that Trump in 2017 was “insecure, he didn’t know the job. He hated to be patronized.”
Trump has also acknowledged that he’s much more confident in exercising his powers the second time around – and he’s made it clear he’s less concerned about potential limitations or criticisms.
The returned president is “far more overtly transactional,” Hockey said, as well as “a far more formidable negotiator.” Since January, allies and foes alike have been subjected to unprecedented tariffs and the ignominy of placating Trump for preferable trade terms.
And it’s rattled some leaders, according to Araud: “European leaders especially are in a sort of denial. They are panicking.”
