SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
President-elect Donald Trump. (Photo: Darron Bergenheier/flickr/cc)
Trump Praises 'Fantastic' Pakistan in Unorthodox Call with Prime Minister
'Your country is amazing with tremendous opportunities,' Trump reportedly told Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. 'Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people.'
Nov 30, 2016
The government of Pakistan has released what it says is a summary of a phone call between its prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump--offering a candid look at the commander-in-chief's unusual style of diplomacy.
The conversation allegedly took place on Monday, and the "readout"--described by Vox as "usually a fairly boring summary of a call between world leaders"--in full is below:
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif called President-elect USA Donald Trump and felicitated him on his victory. President Trump said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif you have a very good reputation. You are a terrific guy. You are doing amazing work which is visible in every way. I am looking forward to see you soon. As I am talking to you Prime Minister, I feel I am talking to a person I have known for long. Your country is amazing with tremendous opportunities. Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people. I am ready and willing to play any role that you want me to play to address and find solutions to the outstanding problems. It will be an honor and I will personally do it. Feel free to call me any time even before 20th January that is before I assume my office.
On being invited to visit Pakistan by the Prime Minister, Mr. Trump said that he would love to come to a fantastic country, fantastic place of fantastic people. Please convey to the Pakistani people that they are amazing and all Pakistanis I have known are exceptional people, said Mr. Donald Trump.
"Obviously, these could just be paraphrases, but the quotes just sound so much like Trump," Zach Beauchamp wrote for Vox.
"Lavishing praise on the Pakistanis would be a major turnaround for the president-elect," the Washington Post noted. "In 2012, Trump took to his favorite social media platform, Twitter, to denounce Pakistan."
"On Jan. 17 of that year," the Post reported, "he wrote: 'Get it straight: Pakistan is not our friend. We've given them billions and billions of dollars, and what did we get? Betrayal and disrespect--and much worse. #TimeToGetTough'."
The readout, which has yet to be corroborated by the Trump team, drew commentary on social media, including from one user who said it was "peak Trumpian":
\u201cToday, in Trump international leader phone call readouts per Pakistan's government\u201d— Shane Goldmacher (@Shane Goldmacher) 1480534606
\u201cMe on how With one phone call, Trump might have upturned America\u2019s relationship with both Pakistan and India. https://t.co/TKG10l6dEd\u201d— Jeet Heer (@Jeet Heer) 1480536541
\u201cFantastic press release of fantastic Donald Trump's phone conversation with fantastic Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif... #fantastic\u201d— Kabir Taneja (@Kabir Taneja) 1480522411
\u201cDrunk kids at Model UN take foreign policy more seriously than this President: https://t.co/H9T2nVGyCf\u201d— Ilissa Gold \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc89\ud83e\udd51\ud83c\udfd8 (@Ilissa Gold \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc89\ud83e\udd51\ud83c\udfd8) 1480539186
\u201cCan't believe our #POTUS is going to sound like this | #Pakistan releases readout of Trump's phone call with PM | https://t.co/gfH5aEsjch\u201d— Dr. Nakissa Jahanbani | \u0646\u06a9\u06cc\u0633\u0627 \u062c\u0647\u0627\u0646\u0628\u0627\u0646\u06cc (@Dr. Nakissa Jahanbani | \u0646\u06a9\u06cc\u0633\u0627 \u062c\u0647\u0627\u0646\u0628\u0627\u0646\u06cc) 1480536338
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
The government of Pakistan has released what it says is a summary of a phone call between its prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump--offering a candid look at the commander-in-chief's unusual style of diplomacy.
The conversation allegedly took place on Monday, and the "readout"--described by Vox as "usually a fairly boring summary of a call between world leaders"--in full is below:
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif called President-elect USA Donald Trump and felicitated him on his victory. President Trump said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif you have a very good reputation. You are a terrific guy. You are doing amazing work which is visible in every way. I am looking forward to see you soon. As I am talking to you Prime Minister, I feel I am talking to a person I have known for long. Your country is amazing with tremendous opportunities. Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people. I am ready and willing to play any role that you want me to play to address and find solutions to the outstanding problems. It will be an honor and I will personally do it. Feel free to call me any time even before 20th January that is before I assume my office.
On being invited to visit Pakistan by the Prime Minister, Mr. Trump said that he would love to come to a fantastic country, fantastic place of fantastic people. Please convey to the Pakistani people that they are amazing and all Pakistanis I have known are exceptional people, said Mr. Donald Trump.
"Obviously, these could just be paraphrases, but the quotes just sound so much like Trump," Zach Beauchamp wrote for Vox.
"Lavishing praise on the Pakistanis would be a major turnaround for the president-elect," the Washington Post noted. "In 2012, Trump took to his favorite social media platform, Twitter, to denounce Pakistan."
"On Jan. 17 of that year," the Post reported, "he wrote: 'Get it straight: Pakistan is not our friend. We've given them billions and billions of dollars, and what did we get? Betrayal and disrespect--and much worse. #TimeToGetTough'."
The readout, which has yet to be corroborated by the Trump team, drew commentary on social media, including from one user who said it was "peak Trumpian":
\u201cToday, in Trump international leader phone call readouts per Pakistan's government\u201d— Shane Goldmacher (@Shane Goldmacher) 1480534606
\u201cMe on how With one phone call, Trump might have upturned America\u2019s relationship with both Pakistan and India. https://t.co/TKG10l6dEd\u201d— Jeet Heer (@Jeet Heer) 1480536541
\u201cFantastic press release of fantastic Donald Trump's phone conversation with fantastic Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif... #fantastic\u201d— Kabir Taneja (@Kabir Taneja) 1480522411
\u201cDrunk kids at Model UN take foreign policy more seriously than this President: https://t.co/H9T2nVGyCf\u201d— Ilissa Gold \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc89\ud83e\udd51\ud83c\udfd8 (@Ilissa Gold \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc89\ud83e\udd51\ud83c\udfd8) 1480539186
\u201cCan't believe our #POTUS is going to sound like this | #Pakistan releases readout of Trump's phone call with PM | https://t.co/gfH5aEsjch\u201d— Dr. Nakissa Jahanbani | \u0646\u06a9\u06cc\u0633\u0627 \u062c\u0647\u0627\u0646\u0628\u0627\u0646\u06cc (@Dr. Nakissa Jahanbani | \u0646\u06a9\u06cc\u0633\u0627 \u062c\u0647\u0627\u0646\u0628\u0627\u0646\u06cc) 1480536338
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
The government of Pakistan has released what it says is a summary of a phone call between its prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump--offering a candid look at the commander-in-chief's unusual style of diplomacy.
The conversation allegedly took place on Monday, and the "readout"--described by Vox as "usually a fairly boring summary of a call between world leaders"--in full is below:
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif called President-elect USA Donald Trump and felicitated him on his victory. President Trump said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif you have a very good reputation. You are a terrific guy. You are doing amazing work which is visible in every way. I am looking forward to see you soon. As I am talking to you Prime Minister, I feel I am talking to a person I have known for long. Your country is amazing with tremendous opportunities. Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people. I am ready and willing to play any role that you want me to play to address and find solutions to the outstanding problems. It will be an honor and I will personally do it. Feel free to call me any time even before 20th January that is before I assume my office.
On being invited to visit Pakistan by the Prime Minister, Mr. Trump said that he would love to come to a fantastic country, fantastic place of fantastic people. Please convey to the Pakistani people that they are amazing and all Pakistanis I have known are exceptional people, said Mr. Donald Trump.
"Obviously, these could just be paraphrases, but the quotes just sound so much like Trump," Zach Beauchamp wrote for Vox.
"Lavishing praise on the Pakistanis would be a major turnaround for the president-elect," the Washington Post noted. "In 2012, Trump took to his favorite social media platform, Twitter, to denounce Pakistan."
"On Jan. 17 of that year," the Post reported, "he wrote: 'Get it straight: Pakistan is not our friend. We've given them billions and billions of dollars, and what did we get? Betrayal and disrespect--and much worse. #TimeToGetTough'."
The readout, which has yet to be corroborated by the Trump team, drew commentary on social media, including from one user who said it was "peak Trumpian":
\u201cToday, in Trump international leader phone call readouts per Pakistan's government\u201d— Shane Goldmacher (@Shane Goldmacher) 1480534606
\u201cMe on how With one phone call, Trump might have upturned America\u2019s relationship with both Pakistan and India. https://t.co/TKG10l6dEd\u201d— Jeet Heer (@Jeet Heer) 1480536541
\u201cFantastic press release of fantastic Donald Trump's phone conversation with fantastic Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif... #fantastic\u201d— Kabir Taneja (@Kabir Taneja) 1480522411
\u201cDrunk kids at Model UN take foreign policy more seriously than this President: https://t.co/H9T2nVGyCf\u201d— Ilissa Gold \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc89\ud83e\udd51\ud83c\udfd8 (@Ilissa Gold \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc89\ud83e\udd51\ud83c\udfd8) 1480539186
\u201cCan't believe our #POTUS is going to sound like this | #Pakistan releases readout of Trump's phone call with PM | https://t.co/gfH5aEsjch\u201d— Dr. Nakissa Jahanbani | \u0646\u06a9\u06cc\u0633\u0627 \u062c\u0647\u0627\u0646\u0628\u0627\u0646\u06cc (@Dr. Nakissa Jahanbani | \u0646\u06a9\u06cc\u0633\u0627 \u062c\u0647\u0627\u0646\u0628\u0627\u0646\u06cc) 1480536338
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.