It was one of those scenes from the G7 in vian-les-Bains, France, that has the world looking on: Donald Trump having a little fun with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan over the fact he doesn’t need to be loud to be heard. The clip has been making the rounds online, and in doing so, has all but upstaged the serious work being done on the UAE-US front.
Why it’s made waves
The kind of remark you don’t see in a prepared statement, it had a way of breaking up a day of heavy diplomacy. In a video that’s been shared by the thousands, Trump put a fine point on it: there is a certain confidence that comes with wealth and status, he mused, and you don’t have to raise your voice to prove you’re in charge.
Sure, it was a lark, but it did something to the narrative coming out of the summit. People were left with an impression of how these two lead, not just the fine print of a communique. And when it comes to public opinion, humour can have a reach well past the negotiating table.
What they were really after
Put aside the banter and the official word is that the two went over the state of their long-running partnership. They covered everything from the economy to security and other matters of mutual interest, with an emphasis on the need for open lines of communication and working together on the world stage.
They also put their heads together on the Middle East as it stands. Given the political and security headwinds in the region, officials put it down to a matter of common purpose and keeping things steady.
A case of unscripted good humour
Then there was another side of things, off to the side of the main table, that also caught on. A reporter starts in with a question and Trump stops him to make a comment on his looks and ask if he hails from the UAE. When Sheikh Mohamed says yes, it becomes a bit of a scene.
Trump makes a comparison between the man’s easygoing way and the hard line he takes with his own critics in the press. “Be careful,” the Sheikh says in good nature. “You look like you should be in a film,” is how Trump puts it. You could hear the room laugh.
How it’s been received
You can find the footage of both on any number of social feeds now. Some have pointed to the informality of it all as a nice change of pace from the usual talk of security and economic numbers.
It has also brought up the old story of Trump and the American media. He has never been shy about calling out what he sees as bias, and this is no different. It’s in keeping with a style that has divided his audience for some time.
In short:
– A joke or two redefined the mood of a top-tier meeting
– The substance of the UAE-US conversation was on stability and working together
– An unforced moment with a reporter has people talking about his ties with the press
Where we go from here
For now, it’s an image of two men at ease with each other in front of a lens, which is more of a win for reputation than for policy. But don’t let that fool you – the intent to put in more work on the security and economic side is there from both sides.
We’ll have to wait and see if a little levity makes for easier conversations down the line. But in a place where you have to build consensus, anything that eases the pressure can be useful when you get to the tougher issues.
What’s at play
The UAE wants to make sure its bond with Washington is solid for the sake of its regional and economic plans. For the US, you can’t do without a dependable ally in the Gulf if you want to handle the volatility in the Middle East and protect your own interests.
So a viral line is a bit more than an internet meme. It shows that how you come across – the tone, the optics – can make a difference in how your message is taken, even if the actual business is conducted well out of view.
