From ‘terrific man’ to ‘fantastic people’: A timeline of Trump’s praise for Pakistan

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir in public remarks since June 2025, highlighting their roles in regional diplomacy and Pakistan’s engagement with the United States.

Trump’s latest remarks came during his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22, when he described Shehbaz as a “terrific man” while recalling the ceasefire between Pakistan and India in May 2025.

Trump again claimed credit for helping bring an end to the military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, saying Shehbaz had credited him with helping save 30 million lives and possibly many more.

The comments were the latest in a series of public statements in which Trump has spoken positively about Pakistan’s political and military leadership.

In a Truth Social post on April 17, 2026, Trump thanked Pakistan and its leadership following developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. He described Shehbaz and Munir as “two fantastic people”, while referring to the prime minister and field marshal as “great”.

Five days earlier, on April 12, Trump had praised Shehbaz and Munir after Pakistan hosted talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad. In a social media post, he described the two leaders as “very extraordinary men” and praised their role in the diplomatic efforts.

Trump had also praised both Pakistani leaders during his Asia-Pacific trip in October 2025. He described Shehbaz as a “very nice man” and a “very good man”, while referring to Munir as a “great fighter” and a “great guy”.

At the Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13, 2025, Trump thanked Shehbaz and referred to Munir as his “favourite field marshal”. He also invited Shehbaz, who was in the audience, to come forward.

Earlier, on September 30, during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump thanked Shehbaz and Munir for supporting his Gaza ceasefire proposal, saying they had backed it “100 per cent”.

Ahead of his September 25, 2025 meeting with Shehbaz and Munir at the White House, Trump again praised both leaders, describing Shehbaz as a “great leader” and Munir as a “very great guy”.

Trump’s public praise for Munir dates back to June 25, 2025, when he discussed the Pakistan-India ceasefire with reporters. He described the military chief as an “exceptional human being” and an “inspiring personality”, while also praising his role during the conflict.

The repeated remarks have accompanied a period of increased high-level engagement between Pakistan and the United States, with Trump publicly highlighting Pakistan’s role in regional diplomatic efforts on several occasions.