A dramatic moment of global diplomacy turned into viral comedy on Monday at the Global Summit on Gaza’s Future in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, when Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lavished praise on former US President Donald Trump, calling him “a man of peace” and even nominating him for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

Sharif credited Trump with “averting a possible nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan and securing a Gaza ceasefire,” during his address at the session on regional stability. But it wasn’t Sharif’s speech that stole the spotlight — it was Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s reaction.

As cameras rolled, Meloni was seen covering her mouth and struggling to contain laughter as Sharif passionately praised Trump. Her visible disbelief became an instant meme moment, with social media users calling it “the most honest diplomatic reaction ever.”

Clips from the session flooded X (formerly Twitter), with one user commenting, “Meloni’s face said what every diplomat was thinking.” Another joked, “Even Meloni’s self-control has limits.”

The internet’s verdict was swift and unforgiving. Hashtags like #MeloniLaughs, #SharifTrumpMoment, and #DiplomaticComedy began trending across platforms, while many accused Sharif of engaging in “chamchagiri” (flattery) to please Trump.

Some also recalled that this wasn’t the first time a Pakistani leader had tried to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize — a move previously floated in 2019.

Despite the online mockery, Sharif maintained that his remarks were meant to emphasize Pakistan’s commitment to global peace and diplomacy. However, critics say the “Meloni moment” overshadowed his entire message, turning what was meant to be a serious diplomatic speech into one of the most viral clips of the year.