Trump mocks Biden for failing to broker Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal: 'Probably tried for 12 minutes'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump turned a high-profile White House peace accord ceremony into a moment of political theater on Friday, August 8, reviving his once-favorite nickname “Sleepy Joe” for former President Joe Biden.

The remark came during the announcement of a US-brokered agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a deal aimed at ending decades of hostility between the two nations.

The unexpected jab visibly startled the foreign leaders seated beside him, with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev laughing and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan raising his eyebrows toward the audience.

Donald Trump uses peace deal platform to mock Joe Biden

The signing ceremony, held in the White House, celebrated the conclusion of intense negotiations that brought an end to one of the world’s longest-running territorial disputes. After thanking key dignitaries, including real estate developer Steve Witkoff, whom Trump jokingly dubbed “Henry Kissinger who doesn’t leak,” the president shifted into his trademark brand of political humor.

“For more than 35 years, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought a bitter conflict that resulted in tremendous suffering for both nations,” the 79-year-old said, noting the failed mediation attempts by various international actors.

“The Russians worked very hard on it. Never happened. Sleepy Joe Biden tried,” he paused, prompting Aliyev’s laughter and Pashinyan’s raised-brow reaction, before continuing, “But you know what happened there. He tried for probably 12 minutes and didn’t work out.”

Internet reacts to Donald Trump's unexpected political jab

Donald Trump's comment quickly drew attention online, with netizens sharing mixed reactions. 

A Trump supporter wrote, "We are winning. You are losing. It's great! MAGA!" while another mocked the president, saying, "And then Trump fell asleep in another meeting."

A person remarked, "It’s sad all the Trumpsters have is Biden..when comparing his 1 admin to Trump’s..Trump has done Nothing," whereas someone else praised the president, writing, "That's President Trump to you boy."

"Why anyone would be surprised by this uncouth slob anymore is the part that surprises me," a Trump critic bluntly wrote. One more quipped, "Seems like Trump has a bad case of Biden derangement syndrome." 

Historic Armenia-Azerbaijan accord follows decades of failed peace efforts

The agreement marks a breakthrough in a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands since the late 1980s. Trump highlighted that previous peace initiatives by the European Union, Russia, and “many other countries” had failed.

He credited US diplomatic pressure for finally producing what he described as “voluminous documents and very important elements to the agreement.”

“This accord has finally succeeded in making peace,” Trump told the gathered officials and press.

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