In the Oval Office on Friday, President Donald Trump witnessed the signing of a major peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
The Washington Accord, as it has been dubbed, aims to bring an end to decades of deadly conflict in eastern Congo. The moment was historic, but it was something else that caught the world’s attention.
As the ceremony got underway, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt invited Hariana Veras, a White House correspondent and native of Africa, to speak. Veras described the hope she had seen firsthand in the DRC following the news of the peace deal. She also shared that Congo’s president wanted to nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump responded warmly and then made a remark that quickly spread online.
A Compliment That Sparked Headlines
“You are beautiful, and you’re beautiful inside. I wish I had more reporters like you,” Trump told Veras. He added, “I’m not allowed to say that. You know that could be the end of my political career.”
The comment, made during an otherwise serious event, immediately drew reactions across social media and news outlets. Some saw it as a lighthearted moment. Others questioned its appropriateness, given the gravity of the event.
A Bigger Picture Beyond the Cameras
While the president’s remark drew attention, the significance of the peace deal should not be overlooked. The agreement includes U.S. access to Congo’s valuable mineral resources such as gold, lithium, and copper. It also reflects months of diplomacy to reduce tensions in one of the world’s most unstable regions.
Trump credited his administration for helping broker peace not only in the DRC and Rwanda but also in other regions like India and Pakistan.
Whether or not the comment overshadows the diplomacy, the true impact of the Washington Accord will be measured not in headlines, but in the lives it may help rebuild.
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