Video of spontaneous act by US president upon arrival for Asean Summit widely highlighted on social media
KUALA LUMPUR: The sight of United States President Donald Trump dancing to local music during his visit to Malaysia for the 47th Asean Summit has lit up social media globally.
The spontaneous act, moments after his arrival, has also been widely highlighted by media outlets worldwide.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the video was even featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and unexpectedly gave Malaysia a global publicity boost just as the nation is gearing up for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
He said the video, that has been viewed more than 50 billion times across platforms, comes as Malaysia aims to draw millions of international visitors next year.
“President Trump himself said Malaysia is a great country with amazing people, incredible infrastructure and vibrant culture.
“The world is watching Malaysia. We must be ready to receive that attention in a positive way,” he said after the I Lite U project pre-launch yesterday.
According to Tourism Malaysia, the country is targeting 47 million international tourist arrivals and RM160 billion in tourism revenue in 2026.
Nga said Malaysia is well-positioned to benefit economically, provided visitors have positive experiences during their stay.
He cited feedback from the China Embassy that Chinese tourists spend an average of RM7,000 per visit to Malaysia.
“Imagine if even a portion of the 47 million tourists we are targeting spend at that level. The benefits would reach hotels, food and beverage outlets, retail, handicraft sectors and even the media. When tourism grows, the whole nation gains.”
Nga said Malaysians themselves play a crucial role in shaping visitor impressions, especially in a social media age in which experiences are easily recorded and shared.
“What the public can do is simple – do not litter, keep shared spaces clean and showcase what makes Malaysia unique. Tourists need good stories, and Malaysia has plenty of them.”
Nga added that Kuala Lumpur has also improved in global rankings, moving from 74th to 65th place in the Smart City World Ranking and remaining among the top 10 most visited cities in the world, according to Mastercard’s Global Destination Index.
“Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan – we are one.
This diversity is our strength and that must continue to be our message to the world.”
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