Edi Rama's white sneakers catch Trump's eye during NATO summit

ANKARA, TURKEY: A brief and light-hearted moment between world leaders became one of the most talked-about scenes from the NATO summit in Ankara after Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama arrived wearing his signature white sneakers.

The exchange unfolded as leaders gathered for the traditional group photograph at the summit.

While discussions throughout the event centered on defense, security and the future of the alliance, Rama’s footwear unexpectedly grabbed attention and created a rare informal moment among the leaders.

Edi Rama’s trademark white sneakers draw attention during NATO photo session

As leaders assembled for the official NATO family photo, Edi Rama stood out from the crowd in his trademark white sneakers, a fashion choice he has become known for during international appearances.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appeared to notice the footwear as leaders took their positions, briefly looking down toward Rama’s sneakers before the photograph was taken.

The moment quickly spread across social media, with users focusing on the contrast between the formal setting of a major international summit and Rama’s casual footwear choice.

A caption circulating alongside the clip referenced Donald Trump’s reaction, joking, “Daddy, look! That man has white shoes,” helping turn the brief exchange into a viral moment.

Donald Trump arrives at summit amid renewed debate over NATO commitments

While the sneakers attracted attention, the summit itself carried significant political weight.

Donald Trump arrived in Ankara facing questions about the future of America's military presence in Europe and NATO's long-term direction.

Before and during the summit, Trump reiterated his longstanding position that European allies should shoulder more responsibility for their own defense.

Asked whether additional reductions in US troop levels across Europe could be considered, Trump declined to rule out the possibility.

“We're going to see,” he told reporters.

His comments came amid continued discussions about defense spending and burden-sharing within the alliance, issues Trump has raised repeatedly throughout both of his terms in office.

Donald Trump reveals he nearly skipped NATO summit

Trump also disclosed that he had seriously considered not attending the summit before ultimately deciding to participate.

The president said he chose to attend after concluding that NATO members had made progress on issues he has pushed for years, particularly increased defense spending by European allies.

For years, Trump has argued that the United States has carried an outsized share of NATO’s defense burden.

He has consistently urged member nations to invest more in their militaries and contribute a larger share toward collective security.

His appearance in Ankara followed months of efforts by alliance members to demonstrate that they were responding to those concerns through increased defense commitments and military investments.