KUALA LUMPUR – US President Donald Trump arrived at his second Asean Summit on Oct 26 armed with praises and diplomatic compliments – and South-east Asian leaders were more than happy to return the favour.

He began the day by commending three South-east Asian prime ministers, including Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim, for their role in the Thailand-Cambodia peace deal, stating that “the three men sitting here should be credited with doing an incredible job for humanity”.

Later at the Asean-US summit, Mr Trump described the region’s leaders as “spectacular leaders” and “incredible people” of “genius”, whose every “touch turns to gold”.

Asean leaders reciprocated with their own expressions of appreciation. Prime Minister Anwar, who has previously been a stern critic of American policy in the Gaza conflict, praised Mr Trump’s “tenacity and courage because the world needs leaders who promote peace strongly”.

When opening the Asean-US summit, Datuk Seri Anwar – speaking as Asean chairman – said Mr Trump’s leadership could even pave the way for “a just and durable peace” in Gaza and the world at large.

“It has given the world a glimmer of hope that even in the most intractable conflicts, diplomacy and determination can prevail,” he added, referring to Mr Trump’s 20-point peace plan announced in September, which has garnered support across Europe and the Arab world.

The entire tenor of Mr Trump’s visit was chummy, congratulatory and cooperative. As soon as he

, both he and host, Mr Anwar, shared a shimmy and shake to the tune of Hawaii Five-O.

Mr Anwar even dared to crack some jokes. Having accepted Mr Trump’s invitation to ride in the armoured limousine dubbed The Beast from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Mr Anwar said the US President was “delighted to break the rules” by not following his own security protocol.

Afterwards, Mr Anwar quipped about their shared past of finding themselves on the wrong side of the law.

“I was in prison, and you almost got there,” he said, drawing laughter from the room during the Thai-Cambodia peace signing.

Mr Anwar was referring to separate terms he spent behind bars for controversial sodomy and abuse of power charges. Meanwhile, the American leader faced 34 convictions in 2024 of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign.

The tone of Mr Trump’s visit was a not unwelcome departure from a more menacing US administration that has levied some of the highest tariffs on Asean member states. In September, the President had lectured United Nations General Assembly attendees and rebuked European leaders, warning them that their countries “are going to hell”.

This was Mr Trump’s second time at an Asean Summit, having attended the 2017 gathering in the Philippines during his first term in office.

Even at crucial trade talks with China at the towering Merdeka 118 a stone’s throw away from where the Asean meetings were being held, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed “great respect” for Chinese Vice-Pemier He Lifeng. In comparison, he had in early October described Beijing’s outspoken trade negotiator Li Chenggang as “unhinged” and “very disrespectful”.

“Trump stuck to the mission,” one Western diplomat told The Straits Times. “There are deals to be done and there’s no need to let a sour comment torpedo the process.”

This includes a highly anticipated bilateral with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in South Korea, with hopes that a deal to end prolonged trade tensions will be agreed at their Oct 30 meet.

Egos were boosted rather than bruised, including some self praise by the President on his successes of bringing investments into the US. Mr Trump also repeated his claim of ending eight conflicts around the world, prompting Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to voice his country’s support for the US President to be nominated for the next Nobel Peace Prize.

“Let’s face it, Asean meetings rarely deliver results. But the Thai-Cambodia peace deal is a big win,” an official from Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Department told ST.

, Mr Trump also signed a reciprocal trade agreement with Cambodia and Malaysia, and a framework on trade negotiations with Thailand and Vietnam.

The

locks in the 19 per cent tariff on exports to the US, with zero rating for key products such as semiconductors and pharmaceuticals that constitute the bulk of what Malaysia sells to America.

In exchange, Washington won a raft of concessions that included access to critical minerals, a key issue in the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China.

No doubt, some questions remain, such as ill-defined additional tariffs on transshipments, ostensibly targeted at Chinese “origin washing”. Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Aziz told reporters there was no discussion on the matter ahead of the agreement with Washington.

Mr Trump told Asean leaders that his government “is with you 100 per cent”, but it was prefaced as a commitment to a “free, open and thriving” Indo-Pacific. Such a vision may mean something different to the many stakeholders in that sprawling geography.

Nonetheless, Asean leaders focused on common interests. Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reminded Mr Trump that “our region buys US exports from all 50 states of America”, from corn to Boeing planes to military equipment.

From a history of being “geographically fragmented and unstable… it was Americans’ actions, sacrifices and efforts that contributed to South-east Asia’s peace and stability, and we will never forget these sacrifices, and it is America’s continued actions and leadership that will enable South-east Asia to thrive”, PM Wong added.

Mr Trump will fly to Tokyo early on Oct 27 for the next leg of his Asian tour, leaving in his wake new trade deals and peace pacts – but also two separate protests in Malaysia’s capital attended by hundreds of attendees amid a lockdown near the summit’s venue.

A group of youth and student activists even convened a “people’s tribunal” to declare Mr Trump guilty of war crimes in the Gaza conflict. Erecting effigies of the American leader, the protesters “punished” him by flinging footwear at them.

Mr Trump’s visit has left an indelible mark on his hosts, Malaysia and Asean.

Whether the reverse is true remains to be seen. But for now, Mr Trump was kept in good spirits all day in Kuala Lumpur, and South-east Asia will take that as a win.