Trump mispronounced Nepal as "nipple" and laughingly referred to Bhutan as "button"

[Miles Archer]

Trump’s desire to call world leaders at awkward hours is just one of many previously unreported diplomatic faux-pas President Trump has made since assuming the office, which go beyond telephone etiquette to include misconceptions, mispronunciations and awkward meetings. Sometimes the foibles have been contained within the White House. In one case, Trump, while studying a briefer’s map of South Asia ahead of a 2017 meeting with India’s prime minister, mispronounced Nepal as “nipple” and laughingly referred to Bhutan as “button,” according to two sources with knowledge of the meeting.

A White House official said that others who were at the meeting don’t remember Trump saying these comments and that he asked appropriate questions.

The mistakes may not be surprising for a leader inexperienced in foreign affairs and accustomed to flouting convention. But some seasoned former diplomats say they risk doing real harm to America’s image — and interests — overseas.

“The underlying premise of protocol is respect for other people,” said Wendy Sherman, a former senior State Department official in the Clinton and Obama administrations. “When the President doesn’t follow protocol, it’s a sign of disrespect.”

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/13/trump-world-knowledge-diplomatic-774801

[jberryhill]

1. Don't tell him about Djibouti

[fleur-de-lisa]

2. LOL!