Did the US Insult Pakistan? PM Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir Wait 30 Minutes Before Meeting Trump

On September 25, 2025, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir were kept waiting for approximately 30 minutes before their scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

🕒 The Wait and Trump's Remarks

During a media interaction, President Trump appeared unsure of the whereabouts of the Pakistani leaders, admitting he was "late" for the meeting. He remarked:

“They may be in this room right now, I don’t know because we are late... they actually may be somewhere in the beautiful Oval Office.”

While the comment was likely intended in a light-hearted manner, it has sparked discussions about diplomatic protocol and the treatment of foreign dignitaries.

🤝 A Thaw in Diplomatic Relations

Despite the awkward start, the meeting between Trump, Sharif, and Munir underscores a renewed phase in U.S.-Pakistan diplomatic relations. This marks the first time since July 2019 that a Pakistani prime minister has met a U.S. president at the White House.

📈 Economic and Strategic Discussions

During the meeting, Prime Minister Sharif invited American companies to invest in Pakistan's agriculture, technology, mining, and energy sectors, highlighting the country's potential for economic collaboration.

The discussions also touched upon global affairs, particularly the war in Gaza, with Sharif praising Trump’s newly proposed 21-point peace plan for the Middle East.

🕊️ Acknowledging Trump's Role in Regional Peace

Prime Minister Sharif publicly lauded President Trump as a "man of peace" for his instrumental role in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India earlier in the year. Sharif described Trump's intervention as critical in averting a potential large-scale conflict in the South Asian region.

📸 Media Coverage and Public Perception

Interestingly, the White House did not release any official pictures or videos of the meeting. However, some Pakistani media outlets published photographs of the trio meeting in the White House. The details of the conversation were also not made public at the time of publishing this article.