From Jefferson To Asim Munir: Supping With The Devil

Apocryphal or not, the story about President John F. Kennedy hosting Nobel laureates at the White House is one that continues to resonate. In his inimitable wit and eloquence, Kennedy remarked that “this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House—with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) dined alone.” It was a masterstroke of humility and reverence for intellect, a tribute to one of the most brilliant minds to have occupied the Oval Office. It’s hard not to recall this anecdote when juxtaposing it with the recent spectacle of President Donald Trump hosting Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, “Field Marshal” Asim Munir, for a White House lunch. Instead of Nobel laureates, Trump dined with a man who presides over a military establishment notorious for undermining democracy, exporting terrorism, and perpetuating regional instability.

The absurdity was compounded when Trump declared that he was “honoured” to meet the Field Marshal, a title that should have caused derision, not awe. His explanation—that he wanted to thank Munir for “not going into the war and ending it”—referred to the brief four-day skirmish between India and Pakistan in May. He lauded the “two very smart people” who avoided escalation. At least, this time, Trump did not claim to have single-handedly mediated the peace. India, on its part, made it clear there was no third-party intervention. The ceasefire was an independent decision and a strategic one, not a diplomatic achievement engineered by Washington. Some reports suggest the luncheon was Trump’s way of thanking Munir for recommending him for the Nobel Peace Prize, a prize every American president secretly coveted and which Trump has publicly chased.

Having failed to end the Ukraine war or bring peace to Gaza, Trump may now be trying to repackage a brief de-escalation in South Asia as his “Cuban Missile Crisis moment”. But he forgets one thing: it was Munir’s own misadventure, the killing of 26 innocents in Pahalgam, that triggered the conflict. And India, by all accounts, demonstrated clear strategic and military superiority in those four days. Trump’s invitation also seems motivated by his Iran strategy. With Pakistan sharing a long border with Iran, its cooperation may appear useful. Yet, if history is any guide, trusting Pakistan’s military intelligence has been a fool’s errand. After all, Osama bin Laden was found enjoying quiet luxury in Abbottabad, just miles from a Pakistani military academy, while Islamabad swore cooperation in the fight against al-Qaeda. When Trump has friends like Munir, he really doesn’t need enemies. Where Kennedy brought gravitas, Trump brings theatrics. The contrast could not be starker, nor more telling of the times we live in.