Trump touts early international successes of second term: 'World respects our country again'

President Donald Trump on Friday celebrated the international achievements his second administration has accomplished in just six months, including a new peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.

The African peace deal was brokered by the United States and Qatar, and signed in a ceremony earlier Friday. 

The Trump administration, championed by Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has also secured major peace deals between Serbia and Kosovo, India and Pakistan, and Israel and Iran. 

Pakistan even nominated Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in de-escalating its conflict with India after a terrorist attack in the Kashmir region led India to attack its Islamic neighbor.

"We were not a country that was respected," Trump said during an event at the White House. "A year ago we had a president that was incompetent. We had bad people circulating around this beautiful Resolute desk. They had, I guess, evil intentions. They were, you couldn't be that stupid ... they had evil intentions, but the world respects our country again." 

Trump also highlighted his recent success at the NATO summit in The Netherlands on Tuesday, where the U.S. helped push global defense leaders in the alliance to raise their respective defense spending to 5% of their total gross domestic product, up from the previous 2% commitment.

The president also looked forward, predicting that the United States would help facilitate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza "sometime next week." 

"I think it's close. I just spoke with some of the people involved," Trump said. "We think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire." 

Trump also claimed that his administration has improved the U.S.' relationship with China, Iran, North Korea and Russia.

"Vladimir Putin made some very nice statements today," Trump said. "Look, he respects our country again. He didn't respect it a year ago. I can tell you right now, but Putin respects our country. President Xi of China respects our country. And Kim Jong Un ... They respect our country again."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.