KUALA LUMPUR: United States President Donald Trump has left for Japan after a one-day stopover in KL.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail headed a team of dignitaries who sent him this morning at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), marking the end of Trump‘s visit to Malaysia for the 47th Asean Summit and Related Meetings.
Air Force One, dubbed the flying “White House” for the US president, departed at 10am for Tokyo, Japan — the next leg of Trump‘s three-nation Asia tour, which will conclude in South Korea.
Trump, who arrived yesterday morning, was greeted with a guard of honour by the Royal Malay Regiment’s 1st Battalion and a red-carpet welcome as he stepped down from the plane, with the national flags of Malaysia and the United States waving in the crowd.
In true Trump fashion, he then joined traditional Malaysian dancers performing on the tarmac.
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He swayed his hips, clenched his fists and moved to the beat of the kompang drums, drawing applause from onlookers.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who received him, also took part, smiling and mirroring the movements — a lighter moment amid the high-level diplomacy.
Videos of the duo instantly went viral, shared by media outlets and netizens worldwide, many noting Trump’s unconventional approach to diplomacy.
Love him or not, he always creates a buzz.
The spontaneous dance set a friendly tone for the visit.
After the performance, Trump picked up both the American flag and Jalur Gemilang from the crowd, waving them together.
Before departing the airport for the summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Trump invited Anwar to join him in The Beast — the official US presidential limousine — as they headed to the venue.
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Trump’s visit began with the brokering of a peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand, with the United States serving as an observer and Malaysia facilitating the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord as Asean chair.
Beyond Asean affairs, the two leaders also discussed prospects for lasting peace in Gaza, with Anwar giving his backing to Trump’s “comprehensive Gaza peace plan.”
A bilateral meeting then took place, during which both leaders signed the unprecedented 17-point US-Malaysia Reciprocal Trade Agreement.
The deal aims to strengthen bilateral economic ties, expand market access and enhance supply chain resilience.
In a joint statement published on the White House website, both leaders said the agreement builds on the existing US–Malaysia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement signed in 2004 and represents a major step forward in bilateral relations.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
