Trump Keeps Pakistani PM and Army Chief Waiting During First White House Meeting

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir faced another diplomatic embarrassment during their recent visit to meet U.S. President Donald Trump. The two were reportedly made to wait for nearly 30 minutes before their scheduled meeting. During a press conference before the meeting, President Trump appeared uncertain about the whereabouts of the Pakistani leaders, admitting that he was running late.

Trump said, “Maybe they’re already in this room, I don’t know, because we’re late… maybe they’re somewhere in the beautiful Oval Office.” Despite the delay, Trump referred to both Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir as “great men.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir praised President Trump’s “bold, courageous, and decisive leadership” in helping make the India-Pakistan ceasefire possible. They also welcomed Trump’s initiative to involve key Muslim world leaders in efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and restore peace in the Middle East.

The leaders discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation, with Sharif inviting American investment in key Pakistani sectors and emphasizing the need to strengthen security and intelligence collaboration. He also extended a warm, official invitation to President Trump to visit Pakistan at his convenience.

According to the Associated Press, Sharif arrived at the White House just before 5 PM local time, while Trump was signing executive orders. His meeting with Asim Munir reportedly took place behind closed doors, and the Pakistani delegation left the White House at around 6:18 PM. However, the White House has not released any official photographs of the meeting with Sharif and Munir.

While it’s unclear exactly how long the Pakistani leaders were kept waiting, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the meeting started approximately 30 minutes late.

This meeting between Trump and the Pakistani leadership comes amid rising tensions between India and the U.S. over trade talks and a proposed 50% tariff on certain imports. It is also the first time President Trump has hosted Shehbaz Sharif at the White House since taking office. Trump had previously welcomed Asim Munir in June for a luncheon meeting.