Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt — October 14, 2025 — In a moment that has quickly gone viral, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was caught in a painfully awkward diplomatic exchange at the Gaza peace summit when he stepped forward believing US President Donald Trump had called on him to speak — only for Trump to resume his address, leaving Starmer visibly flustered.
What Happened
During the Sharm El-Sheikh summit, convened to bolster diplomatic efforts following a Gaza ceasefire, Trump was listing nations he thanked for helping broker peace when he paused and asked, “Where is the United Kingdom, where is my friend, Starmer?”
Starmer, standing just behind Trump among other world leaders, raised a hand and replied, “I am right behind you as usual.” Trump then gestured for Starmer to come forward: “Come up here, is everything going good?”
Believing he might be about to address the audience, Starmer stepped toward the podium. He managed to say briefly, “Very good,” but Trump immediately continued speaking, saying:
“It is very nice that you are here. These people all came on like 20-minute notice and I think it is fantastic.”
Starmer then shifted away for an uncomfortable moment before returning to stand beside other leaders, offering a faint smile amid the visibly awkward exchange.
Reactions & Aftermath
The awkward moment has spread rapidly online, with social media users mocking the apparent miscommunication. Some critics described it as a “snub” or public humiliation. Others saw it as typical Trump-style theatrics.
Despite the moment, Starmer later emphasised the importance of the peace deal, praising efforts made for the Gaza ceasefire, and reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to helping monitor the ceasefire and the possible future decommissioning of Hamas’ weapons.
