AI Generated Summary
- In a wry post on X, Haqqani quipped that Sharif was “still in the lead for Gold in what Fareed Zakaria once called the Olympic sport of flattering Trump.
- While Shehbaz Sharif has long sought to cultivate strong ties with Washington, his frequent and fervent public admiration for Trump continues to invite more mockery than diplomacy — a reminder that in the digital age, political flattery rarely stays confined to domestic audiences.
- Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s glowing tribute to US President Donald Trump has sparked a wave of ridicule online, with former diplomat Husain Haqqani and Indian lawmaker Shashi Tharoor among the most prominent to join in.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s glowing tribute to US President Donald Trump has sparked a wave of ridicule online, with former diplomat Husain Haqqani and Indian lawmaker Shashi Tharoor among the most prominent to join in.
In a wry post on X, Haqqani quipped that Sharif was “still in the lead for Gold in what Fareed Zakaria once called the Olympic sport of flattering Trump.” Tharoor, known for his flair for political wit, promptly amplified the remark, leaving no doubt that the jab struck a chord beyond Pakistan’s borders.
Pakistan’s PM still in the lead for Gold in what @FareedZakaria surmised might be the Olympic Sport of flattering Trump 😏 https://t.co/wZNwyP9qqe
— Husain Haqqani (@husainhaqqani) October 27, 2025
Sharif had earlier hailed the recent Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord between Cambodia and Thailand as “another historic day for peace and diplomacy,” crediting Trump’s “instrumental role” in advancing the initiative — alongside his “Gaza Peace Plan” and other global peace efforts. His exuberant message described Trump as a key figure in promoting stability across the Middle East and South Asia.
Social media users were quick to respond with sarcasm. “You’ll run out of boot polish,” one user commented. Another wondered aloud if Sharif was crediting Trump with saving millions, joking, “That’s like thanking a matchstick for preventing forest fires.”
Haqqani’s dig also revived memories of Sharif’s earlier statements praising Trump as a “visionary leader for world peace,” comments that had similarly prompted quiet discomfort within Pakistan’s diplomatic corps and open amusement abroad.
While Shehbaz Sharif has long sought to cultivate strong ties with Washington, his frequent and fervent public admiration for Trump continues to invite more mockery than diplomacy — a reminder that in the digital age, political flattery rarely stays confined to domestic audiences.
