KUALA LUMPUR — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim lightened the mood at the 47th Asean Summit today with a witty remark directed at United States President Donald Trump, drawing laughter from delegates at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).
Speaking during the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord, Anwar shared a humorous moment as he reflected on his earlier ride in the presidential limousine, Cadillac One, famously known as “The Beast.”
“I told President Trump that we have a lot in common,” Anwar said with a smile. “One of which is that I was in prison, and you almost got there.”
The quip quickly became the highlight of the session, earning smiles and chuckles from both regional and international leaders attending the summit.
The joke referred to Anwar’s own political journey — marked by imprisonment before his return to power — and to Trump’s controversial past legal troubles.
In 2024, Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. However, a US court later granted him an unconditional discharge in January 2025, just days before his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States.
Trump’s visit to Malaysia marks his first official trip to Southeast Asia since assuming office. It also places him among a select group of American presidents who have visited the country — Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966, and Barack Obama in 2014 and 2015.
The exchange between Anwar and Trump added a light-hearted touch to what was otherwise a serious day of diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and peace.
As both leaders continue to engage in discussions on trade, security, and peace-building, today’s moment of humour served as a reminder that even in politics, laughter can bridge differences.
