What began as a serious diplomatic moment quickly morphed into an international joke.
Former President Donald Trump, during a recent speech, once again confused two very different countries — sparking both amusement and disbelief among European leaders familiar with his often shaky grasp of geography. But this time, the slip-up was so memorable that world leaders couldn’t help but poke fun at it.
Trump’s geographic blunder unfolded during remarks where he claimed to have “solved” a longstanding conflict — only to mix up the nations involved. Speaking on Fox News last month, he declared:
“I solved wars that were unsolvable. Azerbaijan and Albania — it was going on for many, many years. I had the prime ministers and presidents in my office.”
What he clearly meant was Armenia and Azerbaijan, neighbors who have endured decades of conflict — not Albania, a completely separate country located hundreds of miles away.
The gaffe didn’t escape notice. At a summit in Copenhagen on October 2, European leaders openly chuckled at the mix-up. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama joked with French President Emmanuel Macron and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev:
“You should apologize to us for not congratulating us on the peace deal President Trump made between Albania and Azerbaijan.”
The trio burst into laughter, with Macron playfully replying, “I’m sorry for that.”
Although Trump did help facilitate a ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan in August, the deal remains unsigned and fragile. Still, the former president has repeatedly praised it as a landmark diplomatic achievement.
The confusion continued. At a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump mispronounced Azerbaijan as “Aber-baijan” and again lumped Albania into the mix:
“I am very disappointed that that one’s not settled. To think that we settled Aber-baijan and Albania, as an example. It was going on for years.”
He went on to recall a White House meeting with the two leaders:
“They started off sitting at opposite ends of the Oval Office — so far apart I didn’t know you could be that far away. But after an hour together, they kept moving closer and closer, and by the end, we all hugged.”
🔹 Final Takeaway
What was meant to highlight a diplomatic success ended up as a public geography lesson—and a source of humor across Europe. While Trump continues to promote his peacemaking efforts, his ongoing mix-ups between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Albania have become a lighthearted reminder:
even in global politics, a little comedy can sneak in, especially when Donald Trump is the one consulting the map.