A Flurry of Diplomatic Visits: Trump’s Busy Start to His Second Term
The opening weeks of Donald Trump’s second presidential term have been marked by an extraordinary flurry of high-profile diplomatic visits to the White House. Unlike the more measured starts of previous administrations, Trump has wasted no time in engaging with foreign leaders, hosting a string of dignitaries in the Oval Office. This rapid succession of meetings reflects a strategic approach that many world leaders have come to adopt when dealing with the unpredictable and transactional Trump: the more face time, the better. From Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, these visits have been as much about personal rapport as they have been about policy discussions.
A Break from Tradition
Trump’s pace of hosting foreign leaders far outstrips that of his predecessors. President Barack Obama, for instance, waited until late February to welcome his first foreign leader after taking office in 2009. Similarly, President George W. Bush invited his Canadian counterpart within two weeks of assuming office but delayed meetings with other leaders for several more weeks. Even President Joe Biden, who took office amid the constraints of the Covid-19 pandemic, did not host a foreign leader until mid-April 2021. In contrast, Trump has already welcomed four foreign leaders, with visitors arriving twice last week and twice this week. This hectic schedule underscores Trump’s preference for direct, in-person diplomacy, even if it means diverging from traditional protocols.
Strategic choosing of Allies
Trump’s initial visitors have primarily been leaders of long-standing U.S. allies, a deliberate choice that signals a return to familiar partnerships. King Abdullah II of Jordan, for instance, has a tradition of being the first Arab leader to visit a newly elected U.S. president. Similarly, the Japanese prime minister is typically the first Asian leader to visit the White House after a presidential inauguration. However, Trump has also extended invitations to leaders like Netanyahu and Modi, both of whom have been accused of undermining democratic norms in their respective countries. This mix of traditional allies and controversial figures suggests that Trump is prioritizing personal relationships and shared political agendas over broader democratic values.
The leaders themselves have come prepared to flatter and charm their host, recognizing that Trump responds well to personal praise and symbolic gestures. Netanyahu, Trump’s first foreign visitor, presented him with a gold-plated pager, a reference to a recent Israeli military operation in Lebanon that targeted Hezbollah members. Meanwhile, Ishiba took a different approach, lavishing Trump with verbal compliments during a joint news conference. "I was so excited to see such a celebrity on television," Ishiba remarked. "On television, he is frightening, and he has a very strong personality, but when I met with him, actually, he was very sincere and very powerful, and with strong will for the United States." Trump, visibly pleased by the praise, responded by presenting Ishiba with a signed photo—a small but meaningful token of their budding relationship.
The Art of Flattery
The practice of showering Trump with praise and gifts is not new. During his first term, world leaders quickly learned that flattery could go a long way in securing his attention and approval. Shinzo Abe, the late Japanese prime minister, set the tone by visiting Trump Tower shortly after Trump’s 2016 election victory, bearing a set of gold-plated golf clubs. This gesture clearly made an impression, as Trump referenced Abe multiple times during Ishiba’s recent visit. Similarly, Modi hosted a grand "Namaste Trump" rally in India in 2020, drawing over 100,000 attendees to a cricket stadium to celebrate the U.S.-India partnership. Modi’s speech was laced with references to Trump’s "Make America Great Again" slogan, rephrasing it as "Make India Great Again" (MIGA) to emphasize the parallel visions of their nations. Trump, visibly delighted by the display, even pumped his fist in approval.
Making Amends and Building Alliances
Not all visitors have had an entirely smooth relationship with Trump in the past, but they have been quick to mend fences during their meetings. Netanyahu, for example, had a falling out with Trump four years ago when he congratulated Joe Biden on his election victory. However, during his recent visit, Netanyahu was effusive in his praise for Trump, calling him "the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House." He also made a point of crediting Trump for securing a ceasefire-for-hostage deal, even though the agreement had been finalized during Biden’s term. This blatant attempt to curry favor with Trump was not lost on observers, who noted that Netanyahu’s strategy seemed to align with Trump’s fixation on outperforming his predecessor.
King Abdullah II of Jordan, whose meeting with Trump was the most contentious due to Trump’s controversial plan to seize control of Gaza and relocate Palestinians to Jordan, also sought to navigate the situation with tact. While Abdullah expressed his concerns about the feasibility and consequences of Trump’s proposal, he carefully framed his remarks to avoid direct confrontation. Instead, he emphasized his optimism about Trump’s ability to bring stability to the Middle East, despite the skepticism many observers have about the plan’s viability. Abdullah’s approach reflects the delicate balancing act that many leaders must perform when dealing with Trump: expressing support for his initiatives while privately harboring doubts about their practicality.
The Limits of Personal Diplomacy
Despite the fanfare surrounding these visits, the meetings have also revealed the limitations of Trump’s personal diplomacy. Abdullah’s visit, for instance, was initially listed as a "closed press" event, suggesting that the king intended to voice his concerns about Trump’s Gaza plan in private. However, the meeting was later opened to cameras, forcing Abdullah to articulate his reservations publicly. While Trump seemed unmoved by Abdullah’s objections, the Jordanian king’s decision to air his concerns underscored the challenges of navigating Trump’s impulsive and often unpredictable decision-making style.
In the aftermath of the meeting, Trump attempted to smooth over any ruffled feathers by releasing a video message addressed to the people of Jordan. In it, he praised Abdullah as "a tremendous man" and "a leader with a wonderful heart," emphasizing Jordan’s importance as a key ally in the region. While the video was likely intended as diplomatic damage control, it also highlighted the transactional nature of Trump’s relationships with foreign leaders. For Trump, personal chemistry and flattery often take precedence over substantive policy discussions, a dynamic that has defined his approach to diplomacy since his first term.
The Broader Implications of Trump’s Diplomatic Style
The flurry of diplomatic visits to the White House in the early days of Trump’s second term offers insights into his approach to international relations. Unlike his predecessors, who often emphasized multilateralism and long-term strategic planning, Trump’s diplomacy is deeply personal and transactional. He thrives on direct interactions with other leaders, often prioritizing short-term gains and personal rapport over broader strategic objectives. This approach has led to both successes and failures during his first term, and it remains to be seen how it will play out in his second term.
For the leaders who have visited Trump, the stakes are high. Each has brought their own agenda to the table, whether it is to secure U.S. support for a controversial policy, to strengthen economic ties, or to repair a frayed relationship. Their strategies have varied—from Netanyahu’s effusive praise to Modi’s elaborate displays of admiration—but they all share a common goal: to secure Trump’s attention and approval in a relationship that is as unpredictable as it is consequential.
As Trump’s second term progresses, the world will be watching closely to see how these early diplomatic efforts shape U.S. foreign policy. Will Trump’s personal diplomacy yield lasting results, or will it lead to further polarization and instability? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the visits of these world leaders to the White House have set the stage for a term that promises to be as dramatic and unconventional as Trump’s first.
