by Oui
Tue Oct 14th, 2025 at 07:51:32 PM EST
.
Trump, Sisi Posters Line Streets of Sharm El-Sheikh Ahead of Gaza Peace Summit | APT News |
Theatrics trumped all at Trump's Gaza summit | France24 |
Trump and the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey -- guarantors to the Israel-Hamas deal -- signed a document on Monday that one diplomat called "more of a vision statement than anything".
In devastated Gaza, the ceasefire is mostly holding, but most of the details of Trump's 20-point peace plan have yet to be thrashed out.
These include significant possible stumbling blocks, like Hamas's disarmament, the Palestinian territory's future governance and the role of a supervisory so-called "Board of Peace".
While Trump held what amounted to a victory rally in the Israeli Knesset on Monday, more than two dozen world leaders -- including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and UN chief Antonio Guterres -- were kept waiting all day in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Red carpet shuffle
In a meeting held ahead of his arrival, they intended to press him on aid and governance, according to a participant.
But when he arrived, four hours behind schedule, they lined up in a queue that snaked all the way around the room to greet the man who claims he can "bring peace to the Middle East".
One after the other, they stepped onto a red carpet to shake hands with a beaming Trump, over a giant sign that read "PEACE 2025".
"It was a very bizarre day... Just the show, the speech with all these leaders lined up, it was crazy," one diplomat told AFP, requesting anonymity in order to speak freely about diplomatic events.
"I've never seen anything like it, and I don't think many people have."
As Trump and Sisi delivered addresses, most of the leaders stood dutifully behind them in an unorthodox configuration that even Trump questioned.
Some refused to take part, with France's Macron, Jordan's King Abdullah II and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas remaining seated.
"He's not going to stand behind a leader as he speaks," said a French diplomat travelling with Macron, who also accompanied Abbas on stage for a reportedly unplanned handshake, which ended up being one of Trump's longest.
The chosen one
Egypt -- whose leaders have taken every opportunity to praise Trump as the "only one in the world capable of achieving peace" -- pulled out all the stops.
Sharm el-Sheikh was covered in billboards featuring Trump and Sisi's smiling faces alongside slogans of peace.
Lip reader spills Trump's five-word threat to Macron during tense handshake power struggle
A professional lip reader claimed that Trump and his French counterpart Macron swapped threats and warnings.
A video from the Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt showing U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron in a long, aggressive handshake has taken social media by storm. The viral clip captures both leaders trying to outgrip each other during the exchange -- a mix of diplomacy and dominance at play in Sharm El Sheikh.
On Monday, in Sharm El Sheikh, Trump and Macron held hands tightly for nearly half a minute, appearing to vie for physical dominance during a photo op. A professional lip reader who observed the interaction suggested that the two might have exchanged subtle threats and accusations before agreeing to continue their discussion privately.
"Nice to see you, so you agreed?" Trump asked Macron as he joined him on the summit stage, according to lip reader Nicola Hickling. Macron responded while facing away from the camera.
"Is it genuine?" Trump seemed to ask. "Of course," Macron replied.
"Okay, so now I want to know why. You hurt me. I already know," Trump appeared to say. "I am making peace."
Macron tapped Trump's hand and looked down at it, saying, "Excuse me," according to Hickling.
Trump seemed to disregard his request and tightened his grip on Macron's hand.
"Let's handle this behind closed doors," Macron seemed to suggest. "I only hurt the other," Trump shot back.
"I see. We will have to see about that -- you will see what is about to happen," Macron cautioned.
