The lesson was learned early inTrumps second term when visiting Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskywas publicly berated at aFebruary 28 Oval Office meeting.
Read moreTensions boil over between Trump, Vance and Zelensky at the White House
As Zelensky faced a verbal lashing from his hosts for not thanking Trump enough, heads of state, multinational corporations and international institutions across the world took note and many responded by adopting baroque levels of flattery diplomacy to deal with the US president.
Pomp, splendour and courtesy have long greased diplomatic wheels. But with Trump this year, it was taken to personal often incredible levels that critics say crossed the line into servility and vassalage.
Here are some of 2025's top moments of Trump praise:
FIFA 'Peace' Prize
The prize never existed before, but after Trump waged awar of words against the Democrat-led US citieschosen to host next yearsWorld Cup,FIFAPresidentGianni Infantinodecided to act. And how.
Infantino, a Trump ally, tapped into the US presidents disappointment over being skipped for theNobel Peace Prizeand cooked up a new, made-to-order award. On a plinth emblazoned with an all-cap Donald J. Trump, a metal globe perched atop five gnarled hands: the FIFA Peace Prize.
This is your prize this is your prize, your peace prize, Infantino gushed as Trump beamed on the John F. Kennedy Center stage.
Read moreUS President Donald Trump named first winner of FIFA Peace Prize
It didnt end there. There is also a beautiful medal for you that you can wear everywhere you want to go, Infantino continued as Trump plucked the shiny object up and promptly put it on, like a modern-day Napoleon crowning himself.
Qatar gifts a luxury jet for Air Force One
In a year that saw world leaders tripping over themselves to sign deals with the US,Qatarwent the furthest, gifting Trump a luxuryBoeingvalued at $400 million to update Air Force One; his presidential aircraft.
The offer was first reported by US media on the eve ofTrumps Middle East visit in MaytoSaudi Arabia,Qatarand theUnited Arab Emirates(UAE).
Watch morePentagon accepts Boeing 747 from Qatar for Trump's use
The gift, the most expensive and controversial ever received by a US president in the countrys nearly 250-year history, kicked up a storm, with Democrats warning about ethical implications and legality and security concerns.
Trump however scoffed away the dismay, noting that Qatar's offer was a nice gesture that would be "stupid" to turn down.
Who's Ruttes Daddy?
With the Trump administration threatening to disengage fromNATO, it was essential to keep the US president on board at the blocs 2025 summit in The Hague.
But NATO Secretary GeneralMark Ruttewent overboard.
In a private message to Trump before the summit, Rutte noted, You are flying into another big success in The Hague ... Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win.
Trump promptly posted Ruttes message on his Truth Social platform, sparking cringes in many quarters.
But there was more. At a June 25 joint press conference during the NATO summit, Trump was asked about theIsrael-Iran war, which was then raging.
The US president responded by likening the two countries to "kids in a schoolyard".
Rutte, in obsequious overdrive, couldnt leave it at that. "Daddy has to sometimes use strong language to get them to stop," said the head of the worlds most powerful military alliance.
As the Daddy quote grabbed headlines, Trump was asked if he views NATO allies as children. "No, [Rutte] likes me, the US president replied. I think he likes me. If he doesn't, I'll let you know. I'll come back and I'll hit him hard, OK? He did it very affectionately, 'Daddy, you're my Daddy.'"
Netanyahu hands Trump a Nobel nomination letter
Trumps obsession with winning a Nobel Peace Prize saw a number of world leaders trip over themselves to nominate the US president for the prize his predecessor, former presidentBarack Obama,won back in 2009.
None did it with as much flourish as Israeli PrimeBenjamin Netanyahu. Before a dinner at the White House Blue Room in July, Netanyahu kicked off the proceedings with a monologue as the cameras rolled.
I want to express the appreciation and admiration not only of all Israelis, but of the Jewish people, began Netanyahu. As US and Israeli teams beamed, the Israeli prime minister held up a letter. I want to present to you, Mr. President, the letter I sent to the Nobel prize committee, said Netanyahu.
Oh, said Trump as he took the letter from Netanyahu.
Its nominating you for the Nobel Peace Prize, which is well-deserved, explained Netanyahu. I think you should get it.
The Nobel committee didnt think so. The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leaderMaria Corina Machado.
Read moreVenezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize
King's letter for 'King Donald'
Handing letters to the king became a thing this year. In February, King Donald as some critics have dubbed Trump received one from the real McCoy. In a desperate bid to maintain the US-UK special relationship, Britains Labour Prime MinisterKeir Starmerceremoniously handed Trump a state visit invitation from his sovereign,King Charles III.
At an Oval Office meeting, the cameras rolled with the praises. Reaching into his jacket breast pocket, Starmer extricated an envelope proclaiming, It is my pleasure to bring from his majesty, the king, a letter.
Thank you very much, said Trump as he took the letter. And held it. As the agonising seconds stretched, the court held its breath. The future ofUkraine, Europe, the transatlantic alliance, world order hung in the balance.
Am I supposed to read it now? asked Trump, uncharacteristically deferential when handed an authentic royal object.
Yes, please do, Starmer replied.
The seconds stretched again as Trump silently read the letter. It was left to Starmer to explain that it was a really special invitation to an unprecedented second state visit.
Having admired the British monarchs beautiful signature, Trump accepted the invitation, sparking months of excruciating Royal Household prepares for state visit coverage. A nine-minuteroyal family videoeven featured the elaborate prep work by livery officers, chefs, gardeners, military musicians and other staff.
They did their jobs. The visit in September took place without a royal hitch.
It was left to the British newspapers to examine if it was all worth the glitz. In its editorial,The Guardianconcluded that, there was an inverse relationship between the pomp and ceremony of this trip and its real import.
The editorial however acknowledged that, in the world of President Trump, a diplomatic interaction that avoids the outright disaster of a public dressing down, or doubling oftariffs, is now regarded as a triumph by US allies.
Originally published on France24
