Image: X@/MilaLovesJoe
US President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on Sunday to a lively reception, stepping off Air Force One with his trademark wave and a brief dance as he greeted the crowd at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.As Malaysian music played, dancers in traditional costumes performed while Trump walked along a red carpet toward them, moving to the rhythm. He was also seen taking two flags, one Malaysian and one American, waving them before smiling and posing for photographs. The US President was received by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other officials, as large crowds gathered at the airport to welcome his arrival.Trump’s visit marks his first ASEAN summit since 2017 and his first trip to Asia in his second term. Analysts say the visit is intended to reaffirm US engagement in the Indo-Pacific and highlight his role as a global negotiator amid ongoing trade tensions.Trump said he is visiting Kuala Lumpur to thank Prime Minister Anwar for Malaysia’s role in helping resolve the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. “I told the leader of Malaysia, who’s a very good man, I said, ‘I think I owe you a trip,’ and that’s why we’re stopping in Malaysia,” Trump said, as cited by CNN. The US president said on Saturday that he will sign a peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand upon arriving in Malaysia, adding that the deal would be finalized “immediately upon arrival” after his day of travel across Asia.“I am on my way to Malaysia, where I will sign the great Peace Deal, which I proudly brokered between Cambodia and Thailand,” Trump said through a post on Truth Social. Trump is also scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea. This will be their first face-to-face meeting since Trump’s return to office and amid a renewed US-China tech and trade dispute.Trump expressed optimism about his upcoming meeting with Xi, saying there was a “really good chance” of reaching a comprehensive deal. Talks are expected to focus on tech and trade, with the White House seeking to pressure China to roll back recent rare earth export restrictions.On the first leg of his Asian tour, Trump is scheduled to meet Xi in South Korea on the final day of his trip, aiming to reach an agreement to end the ongoing trade war.Departing Washington, he also fueled speculation about a potential meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying he was “open to it.”During the ASEAN summit, Trump said he expects to meet Brazilian President Lula da Silva as well to work on improving relations after months of tension.
