President Donald Trump drew both laughs and criticism Friday after making a remark to a female reporter during a formal signing ceremony in the Oval Office between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda—a U.S.-brokered deal aimed at ending decades of deadly conflict in eastern Congo.
As the two nations signed the historic “Washington Accord,” Trump turned a solemn moment lighthearted when he complimented Hariana Veras, an African-born White House correspondent, who had just spoken about the hope the deal had sparked among people in the DRC.
“They have hope now for a better day in Congo,” Veras told Trump, adding that Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi wanted to nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the negotiations.
Trump responded warmly: “So beautifully stated,” before adding, “You’re beautiful, too. I’m not supposed to say that — could be the end of my political career. But you are beautiful, and beautiful inside. I wish I had more reporters like you.”
The moment, though clearly intended as a joke, quickly spread online, with critics calling it inappropriate for the setting. Others dismissed it as harmless banter.
The event itself marked a major diplomatic milestone, as Trump, alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and foreign ministers from both countries, celebrated what he called a “glorious triumph for the cause of peace.”
“This is a long time coming,” Trump said. “The conflict in Congo has gone on for many, many years. Today we witness a breakthrough.”
The Congo-Rwanda conflict has involved more than 100 armed groups and resulted in millions of deaths since the 1990s. Rwandan-backed militias have fueled instability in eastern Congo, creating a humanitarian disaster and displacing thousands.
The peace agreement includes provisions for U.S. access to the DRC’s valuable mineral resources, including gold, lithium, and copper. Trump touted the deal as a win for both African stability and American interests.
In typical fashion, Trump added a flourish of self-praise. “We should have called it the Trump Accord,” he quipped, while listing off what he said were recent peace successes under his leadership: “India and Pakistan, India and Iran, now Congo and Rwanda — and a couple others, too.”
As for Veras, she did not publicly respond to Trump’s comments during the event.
Whether the president’s remarks will have any lasting impact on his political future remains to be seen — but as with many Trump moments, it didn’t go unnoticed.
