In the first year of his second term, US President Donald Trump was flattered and praised as prominent figures calculated that massaging the ego of the leader of the free world was the easiest way to manage global diplomacy – and possibly serve their own interests.
Issued on: 30/12/2025
FRANCE24
By: Leela JACINTO
FIFA President Gianni Infantino awards US President Donald Trump with the FIFA Peace Prize at the Kennedy Center in Washington on December 5, 2025. © Chris Carlson, AP (Graphic: FMM graphics studio)
The lesson was learned early in Trump’s second term when visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was publicly berated at a February 28 Oval Office meeting.
READ MORETensions boil over between Trump, Vance and Zelensky at the White House
As Zelensky faced a verbal lashing from his hosts for not “thanking” Trump enough, heads of state, multinational corporations and international institutions across the world took note – and many responded by adopting baroque levels of “flattery diplomacy” to deal with the US president.
Pomp, splendour and courtesy have long greased diplomatic wheels. But with Trump this year, it was taken to personal – often incredible – levels that critics say crossed the line into servility and vassalage.
Here are some of 2025's top moments of Trump praise:
The lesson was learned early in Trump’s second term when visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was publicly berated at a February 28 Oval Office meeting.
READ MORETensions boil over between Trump, Vance and Zelensky at the White House
As Zelensky faced a verbal lashing from his hosts for not “thanking” Trump enough, heads of state, multinational corporations and international institutions across the world took note – and many responded by adopting baroque levels of “flattery diplomacy” to deal with the US president.
Pomp, splendour and courtesy have long greased diplomatic wheels. But with Trump this year, it was taken to personal – often incredible – levels that critics say crossed the line into servility and vassalage.
Here are some of 2025's top moments of Trump praise:
FIFA 'Peace' Prize
The prize never existed before, but after Trump waged a war of words against the Democrat-led US cities chosen to host next year’s World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino decided to act. And how.
Infantino, a Trump ally, tapped into the US president’s disappointment over being skipped for the Nobel Peace Prize and cooked up a new, made-to-order award. On a plinth emblazoned with an all-cap “Donald J. Trump”, a metal globe perched atop five gnarled hands: the FIFA Peace Prize.
“This is your prize – this is your prize, your peace prize,” Infantino gushed as Trump beamed on the John F. Kennedy Center stage.
READ MOREUS President Donald Trump named first winner of FIFA Peace Prize
It didn’t end there. “There is also a beautiful medal for you that you can wear everywhere you want to go,” Infantino continued as Trump plucked the shiny object up and promptly put it on, like a modern-day Napoleon crowning himself.
US President Donald Trump is presented the FIFA Peace Prize by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on December 5, 2025. © Evan Vucci, AP
Qatar gifts a luxury jet for Air Force One
In a year that saw world leaders tripping over themselves to sign deals with the US, Qatar went the furthest, gifting Trump a luxury Boeing valued at $400 million to update Air Force One; his presidential aircraft.
The offer was first reported by US media on the eve of Trump’s Middle East visit in May to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
WATCH MOREPentagon accepts Boeing 747 from Qatar for Trump's use
The gift, the most expensive – and controversial – ever received by a US president in the country’s nearly 250-year history, kicked up a storm, with Democrats warning about ethical implications and legality and security concerns.
Trump however scoffed away the dismay, noting that Qatar's offer was a nice gesture that would be "stupid" to turn down.
Qatar gifts a luxury jet for Air Force One
In a year that saw world leaders tripping over themselves to sign deals with the US, Qatar went the furthest, gifting Trump a luxury Boeing valued at $400 million to update Air Force One; his presidential aircraft.
The offer was first reported by US media on the eve of Trump’s Middle East visit in May to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
WATCH MOREPentagon accepts Boeing 747 from Qatar for Trump's use
The gift, the most expensive – and controversial – ever received by a US president in the country’s nearly 250-year history, kicked up a storm, with Democrats warning about ethical implications and legality and security concerns.
Trump however scoffed away the dismay, noting that Qatar's offer was a nice gesture that would be "stupid" to turn down.
Who's Rutte’s ‘Daddy’?
With the Trump administration threatening to disengage from NATO, it was essential to keep the US president on board at the bloc’s 2025 summit in The Hague.
But NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte went overboard.
In a private message to Trump before the summit, Rutte noted, “You are flying into another big success in The Hague ... Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win.”
Trump promptly posted Rutte’s message on his Truth Social platform, sparking cringes in many quarters.
But there was more. At a June 25 joint press conference during the NATO summit, Trump was asked about the Israel-Iran war, which was then raging.
The US president responded by likening the two countries to "kids in a schoolyard".
Rutte, in obsequious overdrive, couldn’t leave it at that. "Daddy has to sometimes use strong language to get them to stop," said the head of the world’s most powerful military alliance.
US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at a meeting in The Hague on June 25, 2025. © Piroschka Van De Wouw, AP
As the “Daddy” quote grabbed headlines, Trump was asked if he views NATO allies as children. "No, [Rutte] likes me,” the US president replied. “I think he likes me. If he doesn't, I'll let you know. I'll come back and I'll hit him hard, OK? He did it very affectionately, 'Daddy, you're my Daddy.'"
As the “Daddy” quote grabbed headlines, Trump was asked if he views NATO allies as children. "No, [Rutte] likes me,” the US president replied. “I think he likes me. If he doesn't, I'll let you know. I'll come back and I'll hit him hard, OK? He did it very affectionately, 'Daddy, you're my Daddy.'"
Netanyahu hands Trump a Nobel nomination letter, and picks him for 'Israel Prize'
Trump’s obsession with winning a Nobel Peace Prize saw a number of world leaders trip over themselves to nominate the US president for the prize his predecessor, former president Barack Obama, won back in 2009.
None did it with as much flourish as Israeli Prime Benjamin Netanyahu. Before a dinner at the White House Blue Room in July, Netanyahu kicked off the proceedings with a monologue as the cameras rolled.
“I want to express the appreciation and admiration not only of all Israelis, but of the Jewish people,” began Netanyahu. As US and Israeli teams beamed, the Israeli prime minister held up a letter. “I want to present to you, Mr. President, the letter I sent to the Nobel prize committee,” said Netanyahu.
“Oh,” said Trump as he took the letter from Netanyahu.
“It’s nominating you for the Nobel Peace Prize, which is well-deserved,” explained Netanyahu. “I think you should get it.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hands US President Donald Trump his Nobel nomination letter at the White House Blue Room on July 7, 2025. © Alex Brandon, AP
The Nobel committee didn’t think so. The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
READ MOREVenezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize
While the Israeli prime minister had no say in the Nobel decision, he did his best to make up for it by nominating Trump for another trophy. The year ended with Netanyahu revealing that Trump will be the only non-Israeli citizen to win the Israel Prize.
During his visit to the White House on Monday, Netanyahu held up his phone for Israel’s education minister to inform Trump about the award. In a video clip posted on X, Education Minister Yoav Kisch told the US president the award ceremony will be held on April 22, 2026, to mark Israel’s Independence Day, setting the stage for yet another year of Trump flattery.
The Nobel committee didn’t think so. The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
READ MOREVenezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize
While the Israeli prime minister had no say in the Nobel decision, he did his best to make up for it by nominating Trump for another trophy. The year ended with Netanyahu revealing that Trump will be the only non-Israeli citizen to win the Israel Prize.
During his visit to the White House on Monday, Netanyahu held up his phone for Israel’s education minister to inform Trump about the award. In a video clip posted on X, Education Minister Yoav Kisch told the US president the award ceremony will be held on April 22, 2026, to mark Israel’s Independence Day, setting the stage for yet another year of Trump flattery.
King's letter for 'King Donald'
Handing letters to the king became a thing this year. In February, “King Donald” – as some critics have dubbed Trump – received one from the real McCoy. In a desperate bid to maintain the US-UK “special relationship”, Britain’s Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer ceremoniously handed Trump a state visit invitation from his sovereign, King Charles III.
At an Oval Office meeting, the cameras rolled with the praises. Reaching into his jacket breast pocket, Starmer extricated an envelope proclaiming, “It is my pleasure to bring from his majesty, the king, a letter.”
“Thank you very much,” said Trump as he took the letter. And held it. As the agonising seconds stretched, the court held its breath. The future of Ukraine, Europe, the transatlantic alliance, world order hung in the balance.
“Am I supposed to read it now?” asked Trump, uncharacteristically deferential when handed an authentic royal object.
“Yes, please do,” Starmer replied.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hands President Donald Trump an invitation from King Charles III during a White House meeting on February 27, 2025. © Carl Court, AP
The seconds stretched again as Trump silently read the letter. It was left to Starmer to explain that it was a “really special” invitation to an “unprecedented” second state visit.
Having admired the British monarch’s “beautiful” signature, Trump accepted the invitation, sparking months of excruciating “Royal Household prepares for state visit” coverage. A nine-minute royal family video even featured the elaborate prep work by livery officers, chefs, gardeners, military musicians and other staff.
They did their jobs. The visit in September took place without a royal hitch.
It was left to the British newspapers to examine if it was all worth the glitz. In its editorial, The Guardian concluded that, “there was an inverse relationship between the pomp and ceremony of this trip and its real import”.
The editorial however acknowledged that, “in the world of President Trump, a diplomatic interaction that avoids the outright disaster of a public dressing down, or doubling of tariffs, is now regarded as a triumph by US allies”.
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