Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, 47, received unusual praise from the U.S. leader in a remark that many have since described as “embarrassing.”

A strange speech delivered by Donald Trump earlier today quickly went viral after he offered what some viewed as a backhanded compliment, referring to Paraguay’s president as a “young, handsome guy.”

The comment came as the 79-year-old U.S. president hosted several political leaders at the White House on Thursday (19 February) for the inaugural meeting of his newly formed Board of Peace.

Last year, Trump invited nearly all world leaders to take part in the controversial initiative, saying its main objective was to help rebuild Gaza following the conflict with Israel. Prior to this week’s first gathering, he revealed that members who accepted the invitation had collectively pledged $5 billion toward the reconstruction of the heavily damaged region.

“What we’re doing is very simple – peace,” Trump announced as he opened the meeting. “It’s called the Board of Peace, and it’s all about an easy word to say, but a hard word to produce – peace.”

Over two dozen countries agreed to become founding members of the group, including many in the Middle East, like Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Representatives were also sent from Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, El Salvador, Hungary, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Hosting the group in his presidential residence today, Trump made his way around the room, greeting each leader one by one.

When the time came for the Republican to address Santiago Peña, however – the 47-year-old Paraguayan president who has served in the role since 2023 – he hailed his South American counterpart as a ‘young, handsome guy’.

In peculiar footage that is now doing the rounds online, Trump jokes whilst delivering a speech in Peña’s direction: “It’s always nice to be young and handsome.”

He went on to joke: “Doesn’t mean we have to like you. I don’t like young, handsome men.

“Women? I like. Men, I don’t have any interest. That’s right, that’s right.”

Unsurprisingly, Trump’s controversial comments have caused quite the stir online, with one critic slamming his inappropriate timing on X (formerly Twitter).

“He’s a creepy old man,” they wrote.

Another added: “Like zero self awareness.”

“How embarrassing,” a third went on.

He might claim not to like attractive members of the same sex, but it’s hard not to compare Trump’s latest remarks with a statement he made while meeting with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia last year.

Despite al-Sharaa previously serving as a fighter for al-Qaeda against US forces in Iraq, the American president described him to press at the time as a ‘young, attractive guy’.

He added: “Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter. He’s a real leader.

“He led a charge and he’s pretty amazing.”