Trumpiest moment

AS A model for diplomacy, the Singapore summit had its highs and lows. But as a platform for displaying the singular performance art of Donald Trump, it was a solid 10.

President Trump was on his best behaviour, as is so often the case when he is dealing with dictators. Gone was the chest-thumping, insult-hurling ranter who had threatened to light up “Little Rocket Man” with a “fire and fury like the world has never seen”. Instead, Mr Trump unleashed his version of a charm offensive on Kim Jong-un.

With the world looking anxiously on, Mr Trump was flattering – gushing even – about his North Korean counterpart. The two leaders were all smiles and friendly pats, and that 13-second handshake, complete with Mr Trump’s Clintonesque elbow grab, seemed to go on forever.

Mr Trump was even more effusive about Mr Kim after their session, sounding more like he was deconstructing a blind date than analysing a diplomatic meeting. “We had a great chemistry,” he told the journalist Greta Van Susteren. “You understand how I feel about chemistry… We had it right from the beginning.”

Mr Trump’s chumminess with one of the globe’s most notorious despots would have been noteworthy under any circumstances. It was all the more striking coming on the heels of the president slamming Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada – one of America’s closest allies – as “weak”, “meek” and “very dishonest”. But from a Trumpian perspective, the contrast makes perfect sense.

But if he somehow can pull off this trick, boy oh boy, won’t everyone be amazed. This is ultimately what makes North Korea so irresistible to Mr Trump. There are indeed lots of dangerous regimes and looming threats on the world stage. But which regime is seen as the most unpredictable, the most isolated, the craziest of crazy?

If Mr Trump can crack this nut, he’ll surely get the adulation – not to mention the Nobel Peace Prize – that he is so desperate for.