During the Gaza Peace Summit held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 14, 2025, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif surprised global leaders by nominating former US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in preventing escalation between India and Pakistan. Sharif praised Trump for his “outstanding, extraordinary contributions” in helping secure a ceasefire, claiming that Trump’s repeated threats of sanctions had helped avoid several conflicts, including tensions along the Line of Control earlier this year.

As Sharif spoke, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, positioned behind him alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, visibly reacted. Meloni instinctively covered her mouth, attempting to conceal her expression. Even after lowering her hand, she maintained a neutral, somewhat startled demeanor as the praise continued. The moment was captured on video and quickly went viral on social media, drawing attention for her famously candid reactions to unexpected statements from world leaders.

This was not Meloni’s first instance of expressive reactions making headlines. Previously, during the NATO Summit in Washington in 2024, she was seen rolling her eyes and checking an imaginary watch while waiting for former US President Joe Biden. Similarly, at the G7 Summit in Italy in July 2024, she gave French President Emmanuel Macron a tense handshake and what appeared to be a “death stare,” underscoring her reputation for unfiltered, candid expressions.

The Gaza Peace Summit brought together over 20 world leaders to finalise a US-brokered peace framework and discuss post-war reconstruction after two years of violence in the Israel-Hamas conflict. During the event, Trump signed a landmark document formalising the ceasefire agreement, while Hamas released all living Israeli hostages, and Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees as part of the peace deal’s first phase.

India, however, repeatedly rejected Trump’s claims of brokering a ceasefire following Operation Sindoor earlier this year. Despite this, Trump continued to highlight his role in the peace process during public addresses, including at the summit. Meloni’s candid response, therefore, not only reflected the surprise among attending leaders but also the complex dynamics of international diplomacy, where verbal accolades can spark both amusement and scrutiny.

Analysts noted that the summit demonstrated the interplay between serious geopolitical negotiations and lighter, humanizing moments. While the Nobel Peace Prize nomination and Trump’s statements dominated social media attention, the summit itself focused on ceasefire enforcement, humanitarian relief, and long-term regional stability. Meloni’s viral reaction added a moment of levity to an otherwise high-stakes diplomatic event, reinforcing her image as a leader unafraid to express candid emotions in public forums.

The incident highlights how even brief, informal interactions at global summits can capture widespread attention, shaping public perception of world leaders and their personalities. As discussions around the Israel-Hamas conflict continue, moments like Meloni’s reaction serve as reminders of the human element in international diplomacy, blending protocol with spontaneous, unscripted human behavior.

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