Donald Trump couldn’t locate Finnish President Alexander Stubb during a high-stakes Ukraine peace summit on Monday—despite the fact Stubb was sitting directly across the table from him.
“President Stubb of Finland. He’s uh, somebody that, where are we here?” Trump said, scanning the room in confusion.
“I’m right here,” Stubb replied, seated just feet away, between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and another European leader.
Trump, 79, then leaned forward and tried to recover: “Oh! You look better than I’ve ever seen you look. But you’ve done a great job and we wanted to have you here.”
The moment was caught on video and quickly drew attention, adding to growing concerns over Trump’s recent string of public lapses. It also came just months after Trump publicly praised Stubb as a “very good player” following a round of golf together in Florida. The two had even teamed up to win a tournament earlier this year.
But even that personal connection didn’t help Trump recognize his so-called “golf buddy” sitting right in front of him.
The scene echoed other recent incidents that raised eyebrows. During a press conference with Apple CEO Tim Cook earlier this month, Trump thanked two Cabinet officials without realizing they were standing directly behind him.
“Thanks as well to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for being here, wherever you may be,” Trump said.
“I’m right behind you,” Lutnick replied.
“Oh hey fellas, I missed you,” Trump responded.
A similar moment played out on July 31, when Trump was signing a veterans’ bill and failed to notice the lawmakers who had championed the legislation were right behind him.
These repeated stumbles come as Trump, now the oldest sitting president in U.S. history, enters his second term. He’s confused Alaska with Russia, forgotten the names of key wars, and posted rambling social media messages that even his supporters have struggled to decipher.
The White House has not commented on Monday’s confusion. But Trump’s mental sharpness is once again under the microscope—and this time, even a golf friendship couldn’t help him see what was right in front of him.
Watch the cli below:
TRUMP: President Stubb of Finland. He's uh, somebody that, where are we here? Huh?
STUBB: I'm right here
TRUMP: Oh. pic.twitter.com/LNnLOva4e4
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 18, 2025
