At a White House event marking the signing of a U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, President Donald Trump reportedly delivered a signature political zinger targeting President Joe Biden, leaving the assembled world leaders visibly taken aback.
Known for his sharp rhetoric and once-famous nicknames, Trump revived a classic jab at Biden that has faded from public discourse but made a timely reappearance on Friday.
The occasion—a historic diplomatic moment intended to signal peace after decades of conflict—became a stage for Trump’s unmistakable style.
Trump began by thanking key figures involved in the negotiations, including real estate magnate Steve Witkoff, whom he humorously likened to “Henry Kissinger who doesn’t leak,” drawing laughter from the room.
The atmosphere, initially cordial, shifted as Trump turned his attention to the long-standing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“For more than 35 years, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought a bitter conflict that resulted in tremendous suffering for both nations,” Trump said. “Many tried to find a resolution, including the European Union. The Russians worked very hard on it. Never happened. Sleepy Joe Biden tried—”
His comment drew an audible laugh from Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and an eyebrow raise from Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, signaling a mix of amusement and surprise at the pointed critique.
Trump continued with characteristic bluntness, “—but you know what happened there. He tried for probably 12 minutes and didn’t work out.”
The president’s quip underscored a familiar conservative critique of the Biden administration’s foreign policy — a perceived lack of effectiveness and leadership on critical international issues.
By juxtaposing his own administration’s successful brokering of the peace deal against Biden’s short-lived and unsuccessful efforts, Trump aimed to highlight his record of bold diplomacy and tangible results.
Despite the jab, Trump pivoted back to the significance of the day’s achievement. “Many other countries tried, and they were unsuccessful.
But with this accord, we’ve finally succeeded in making peace,” he declared. Trump emphasized that the agreement was solidified just moments earlier in the Oval Office, where “voluminous documents and very important elements” were signed.
The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, centered on the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, has caused immense human suffering and regional instability.
Over the years, multiple international actors, including Russia and the European Union, have attempted to mediate without success.
Trump’s administration, through the efforts of envoy Steve Witkoff and diplomatic pressure, helped forge the new deal that promises to open a path toward lasting peace.
Trump’s commentary at the ceremony reflected not only his trademark confrontational style but also a broader conservative message: America’s role on the world stage demands decisive leadership, and failures of diplomacy abroad are often linked to weak or distracted political leadership at home.
As the leaders from Armenia and Azerbaijan prepared to move forward with the peace process, the moment also served as a reminder of the partisan divisions shaping contemporary American foreign policy debates—and the enduring influence of Trump’s brash, results-oriented approach.
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