President Donald Trump joked it “could be the end of my political career” after he flirted with an African reporter while presiding over a ceremony Friday afternoon with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.
“I shouldn’t say this because it’s politically incorrect: She’s beautiful. And you are beautiful,” Trump told Hariana Veras beside his desk in the Oval Office as reporters covered the ceremony.
“I’m not allowed to say that, you know,” he told her. “That could be the end of my political career.”
Trump laid it on thick.
“But you are beautiful, and you’re beautiful inside,” the president gushed to Varas. “I wish we had more reporters like you.”
The two engaged in chit chat, with Trump asking if she “covered Africa for a long time.”
“Yes, for over 10 years,” Varas said. “I covered even your first administration.”
“I didn’t know that. That’s great,” Trump said, shaking hands with the reporter. “So nice. And I appreciate it.”
Later on in the ceremony, Trump handed out challenge coins to cement peace between the two African nations.
“I think that your reporter from Africa should get one. What do you think?” Trump said. “Are the reporters OK with it?”
“Darling, that’s for you, OK?,” he said, handing her the coin. “You did a fantastic job. And I hear you do a great job covering everything.”
Trump signed letters to the leaders of Rwanda and Congo inviting them to Washington for the finalization of the peace agreement.
The event is expected to take place in July.
Officials said negotiations were also underway for investment agreements stemming from the peace accord for Congo’s resource-rich east.
