US President Donald Trump added a touch of surprise and excitement to his arrival in Malaysia on Sunday, breaking into a brief dance to the tune of Hawaii Five-O as he began his multi-nation tour of Asia.
Upon landing at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Air Force One was greeted with full military honours, a Malaysian fighter jet escort, and crowds waving both US and Malaysian flags. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomed Trump on the tarmac alongside cabinet ministers and senior government officials.
Trump delighted spectators when he joined a group of traditional Malaysian dancers performing near the red carpet. He waved his arms in rhythm, smiled broadly, and even accepted two small flags from the crowd, waving them before posing for photos. Anwar, sharing in the moment, joined Trump, earning cheers from onlookers.
After the spontaneous display, Trump entered his car with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to proceed to the ASEAN summit venue.
The Malaysia visit marks the first leg of Trump’s regional tour, focused on reviving trade discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and strengthening US engagement in Asia. “We will be signing the Peace Deal immediately upon arrival,” Trump said earlier on social media, referring to a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia that he helped broker.
During his stay, Trump is expected to attend the ASEAN summit—an event he skipped several times during his first term—and sign a bilateral trade agreement with Malaysia. He will also meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the summit.
Before arriving in Kuala Lumpur, Trump made a refuelling stop in Qatar, where he met Gulf leaders who helped guarantee the Gaza ceasefire deal initiated by Washington.
Following Malaysia, Trump will travel to Japan to meet newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, before heading to South Korea for a high-profile meeting with Xi Jinping aimed at easing the ongoing US-China trade tensions.
A potential meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has not been ruled out. South Korea’s reunification minister said there was a “considerable” possibility, while Kim has reportedly expressed that he is “open” to meeting Trump if Washington relaxes its stance on denuclearisation.