President Donald Trump met Monday with several Middle East leaders following his address to the Israeli Knesset and ahead of a peace summit in Egypt, including Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, who drew a bizarre remark from the president during their brief encounter.
“There he is!” Trump excitedly shouted as al-Sudani made his way toward Trump, who is expected to make an address later on Monday during a summit called “Peace in the Middle East.”
The two of them shook hands and posed for a photograph, after which Trump dropped a bizarre remark related to Iraq’s ample natural resources.
“He’s got plenty of oil!” Trump said, smiling. “A lot of oil!”
The peace summit was scheduled to address the future for the Middle East following the Trump-brokered peace agreement reached, in part, between Israel and Hamas that saw a return of all remaining living Israeli hostages earlier on Monday.
Iraq is among the world’s leading producers of crude oil, second in the
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countriesonly to Saudi Arabia. Its ample supply of oil has led to many
devastating geopolitical ramificationsfor the country, largely kicked off when the nation
nationalized its oil industryin 1972, seizing oil production infrastructure from
western oil giantslike Exxon, Mobil, BP and Shell.
"He’s got plenty of oil! A lot of oil!"
Trump to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani ahead of the Egypt peace summit. pic.twitter.com/GKWRdnfsmS
— Alexander Willis (@ReporterWillis) October 13, 2025