President
Donald Trump
made a number of sweeping promises during his second
inaugural address
, including a vow to “tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens” instead of “taxing our citizens to enrich other countries.” It was a continuation of his long-held focus on the homefront.
“During every single day of the Trump administration, I will, very simply, put America first,” he said on Jan. 20.
It’s perhaps no surprise, then, that the president has been polarizing internationally, dating back to his first term. The
Pew Research Center found
in 2024 that a median 69% of respondents across 34 countries were not confident in the at-the-time former president to do the right thing regarding world affairs.
Insight into the Trump administration’s second-term stance toward the international community and how strongly his “America first” approach will play out can be gained by surveying the foreign leaders who’ve paid visits to him at the White House, along with the news that’s resulted from those gatherings. Topics discussed can range from Trump priorities like trade and immigration to defense and mutual alliances, with the U.S. president potentially throwing a curveball or two in connection with such confabs as well.
The list of foreign leaders who were
predictably congratulatory
toward Trump on Inauguration Day was long. Since early February, he’s been busy returning the favor by hosting his peers.
Here’s a look at the high-level leaders who’ve journeyed to the White House so far during Trump’s second term.
Foreign Leaders Who Have Met With Trump at the White House
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, on Feb. 4 became the
initial international dignitary to pay a visit
Since Inauguration Day, the White House has seen interactions between these two leaders who met in the Oval Office and joined a press conference where Trump was present.
urged the U.S. to “assume control” of Gaza
– a concept that would involve removing Palestinians from their home and turning the enclave into what Trump said could be the “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
Netanyahu, who has a
complicated past with Trump
, seemed supportive of the proposal, which would necessitate the termination of
Israel’s war against Hamas
.
—
Israel’s prime minister
went back to the White House
For his second visit within just a few months on April 7th. The meeting, arranged rather hastily,
revealed unexpected gaps
Between these two leaders, compared to their previous meeting in the Oval Office shortly after the start of the president’s second term, disagreements emerged on topics like Iran, Turkey, and ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas. This recent clash has seen Israel violate a truce agreement. Nevertheless, the president expressed optimism that the fighting would cease “at some point not far off.”
Trump also announced a
U.S. meeting with Iranian officials
while sitting next to Netanyahu, who has been more supportive of military action against Iran rather than diplomacy.
Learn more about
Israel
, which is No. 46 in the 2024
Best Countries rankings
by U.S. News.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba
Trump on Feb. 7
hosted Japan’s Shigeru Ishiba
, who was elected Prime Minister barely a month prior to the U.S. presidential election. During his visit, Trump announced that Nippon Steel, Japan’s leading steel producer, would be withdrawing its offer to acquire U.S. Steel and would instead
invest in an American business
, although specific information was hazy.
Trump also expressed confidence that “cherished alliances” between the U.S. and Japan would “continue to flourish,” while Ishiba said his country would seek to invest another $1 trillion in the U.S.
Learn more about
Japan
which ranks second in the 2024
Best Countries rankings
by U.S. News.
King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan
King Abdullah II of Jordan paid a visit to the White House.
met with Trump
On February 11th – one week following the president’s introduction of his Gaza plan, which would additionally include neighboring Arab countries such as Jordan.
taking in additional Palestinians
from Gaza. The King of Jordan
posted on social media
after his meeting with Trump that he “reiterated Jordan’s steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank,” noting that this is the “unified Arab position.”
Trump, for his part, repeated his ideas during the appearance with Abdullah, claiming that the U.S. wouldn’t have to purchase Gaza’s land and is “going to have it” and “take it,” based on “U.S. authority.”
Learn more about
Jordan
, ranking at number 72 for the year 2024
Best Countries rankings
by U.S. News.
Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi
Trump hosted India’s leader Narendra Modi – whom he called a “great friend” – for a
meeting and news conference
On February 13, Modi complimented his American counterpart and stated that he aims to “Make India Great Again,” echoing the President’s motto.
Before Modi’s visit, Trump
announced plans
for
“reciprocal” tariffs
on trade partners that apply tariffs to American exports. Alongside Modi, the president said India would be no exception, calling the import levies imposed by Modi’s country “very unfair and strong.”
“If it’s India or if it’s somebody else with low tariffs, we’re going to have the same,” Trump said. “Whatever India charges we’re charging them, whatever another country charges we’re charging them.”
Learn more about
India
, which is No. 33 in the 2024
Best Countries rankings
by U.S. News.
French President Emmanuel Macron
Trump
hosted his French counterpart
, Emmanuel Macron, at the White House on Feb. 24, with a
major focus
Regarding the summit focusing on the U.S. and Europe’s roles in addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict, after the U.S. initiated talks with Russia aimed at concluding the dispute, Macron
spoken before his meeting
With Trump, he aimed to convey that he must not appear weak to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
So far, the Trump administration has communicated directly with Russian officials.
much to the chagrin
of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders. Macron
said during a news conference
after his meeting with Trump that he thinks “no one in this room wants to live in a world where it’s the law of the strongest.” The French leader
also said
Europe should “more fairly share the security burden that (the U.S.) has been carrying for so many years,” and that he talked with the president about trade, with the goal being “fair competition.”
Learn more about
France
, which is No. 12 in the 2024
Best Countries rankings
by U.S. News.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
The president
welcomed
Keir Starmer, the United Kingdom’s prime minister, to the White House on Feb. 27, with Starmer becoming the second European leader to visit Trump that week after Macron three days earlier. A main focus of the bilateral meeting was again the Russia-Ukraine war and efforts to achieve peace. During a news conference after their summit, Trump hailed Starmer’s
prior announcement
that his nation will boost its military expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2027.
Starmer emphasized that this relationship is now more important than ever concerning the connections between the U.K. and America. He added that his nation is fully committed to “taking on a greater share of the security responsibilities,” echoing President Macron’s statements made during his recent trip. In regard to resolving the dispute in Eastern Europe, the prime minister stated firmly that “peace cannot come at the expense of rewarding aggression.” Both Trump and Starmer highlighted that their nations are collaborating towards establishing a new trade deal.
Learn more about the
United Kingdom
, ranking No. 8 for the year 2024
Best Countries rankings
by U.S. News.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Roughly a week after
calling
The Ukrainian leader was referred to as a “Dictator without Elections” by Trump.
met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy
at the White House on Feb. 28 with plans to finalize a deal exchanging additional U.S.
aid for Ukraine amid its war with Russia
for access to revenue from the country’s rare earth minerals and other natural resources. But this session, at least publicly, was not friendly.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated and argued with Zelenskyy, raising their voices at him in front of reporters in the Oval Office. The president told his counterpart that he was “gambling with World War III. “You have to be thankful,” Trump said. “You don’t have the cards.”
“I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media,” Vance
said
. “You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
Tensions did not appear to cool from there. Trump posted
on social media
shortly afterwards, Zelenskyy “showed disrespect to the United States of America in its beloved Oval Office” and suggested “he should return when he is prepared for peace,” implying that the U.S.-Ukraine agreement had been called off, at least temporarily. Additionally, a jointly scheduled press conference with both leaders was canceled as well.
canceled
.
Learn more about
Ukraine
which ranks as No. 80 in the 2024
Best Countries rankings
by U.S. News.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin
Trump
hosted
Ireland’s taoiseach, the Irish title for prime minister, Micheál Martin at the White House on March 12 in part to mark St. Patrick’s Day. Prior to his visit, Martin highlighted the importance of the U.S.-Ireland relationship by saying “thousands and thousands of jobs” depend on it.
The president, meanwhile,
told reporters
at the start of his Oval Office meeting with Martin that his counterpart’s country was among those taking advantage of the U.S., saying Ireland has lured away pharmaceutical and other companies with its tax policies. The comments came amid a trade war launched by Trump using tariffs and the threat of tariffs on imports from American trading partners, including members of the European Union.
“There’s a massive deficit that we have with Ireland and with other countries,” Trump said while next to Martin, according to Reuters. “I have great respect for Ireland … but the United States shouldn’t have let it happen.”
Learn more about
Ireland
, which is No. 24 in the 2024
Best Countries rankings
by U.S. News.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele
Trump
welcomed
El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, who once
called himself
the “coolest dictator in the world,” for a bilateral meeting on April 14. The U.S. and El Salvador have partnered heavily on immigration enforcement since Trump returned to office, with the U.S. president saying in the Oval Office that he has the “best relationship with” Bukele. The two leaders were
set to discuss
further cooperation during their meeting.
A main focus of their public comments was on Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man and Maryland resident who was
expelled to El Salvador in March
Due to what they call an “administrative error,” Abrego Garcia, who the federal government alleges is part of the MS-13 gang, is presently detained in El Salvador’s well-known Facility for Terrorist Confinement. The Supreme Court has addressed this issue.
instructed the administration to adhere
With a lower court directive and “assist” in facilitating his release from Salvadoran authorities. However, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that it is “up to El Salvador whether they wish to extradite him,” although she noted that should the nation decide so, the U.S. would be ready to assist with the process. Bukele subsequently informed journalists that he was “not freeing” Abrego Garcia, questioning how he might “smuggle a terrorist into the United States.” It’s important to mention that Abrego Garcia hasn’t been found guilty of any connected offenses.
Trump and Bukele also spoke about other immigrants who have been deported from the U.S. to El Salvador, and Trump blamed the “liberal establishment” for migrant crime. “They’re not running things anymore,” he added.
Learn more about
El Salvador
which ranks as number 79 in the 2024
Best Countries rankings
by U.S. News.
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made comments on April 17.
became
The 10th official from Europe to meet with President Trump at the White House during his second term. This individual was also acting on behalf of the European Union, an entity that the president has frequently critiqued and subjected to increased “retaliatory” tariffs of 20%, which remain in effect.
paused
.
Trump, however, told reporters during their meeting that he and his administration are in “no rush” to reach trade agreements following his announcement of tariffs, adding that deals would come together “at a certain point.” For her part, Meloni
said she was confident
that the U.S. and EU would come to an agreement.
It probably aids that Meloni and Trump share a robust connection: The premier had been
the sole European Union leader asked to be present
Her inauguration in January marked her second term. When they convened in early April, Meloni was also
extended an official invitation
for the president to travel to Italy, while Trump
said
She’s performing an “outstanding job” as prime minister.
Learn more about
Italy
, ranking No. 15 for the year 2024
Best Countries rankings
by U.S. News.
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