COMMENT | We Malaysians are known for our warmth and hospitality. We open our homes, share our best food, and welcome people from all nations. It is part of our culture to treat guests with generosity and respect.

But hospitality should never be extended blindly. At a time when humanity is being tested by a moral crisis, our friendliness cannot be mistaken for approval for those who trample on justice and international law.

Donald Trump, since being re-elected as US president, has shown he does not deserve Malaysia’s or Asean’s hospitality. He has wreaked havoc on the global economy through arbitrary tariffs, bullied his trading partners, and clamped down on civil rights at home.

Most damning, he continues to shield Israel’s atrocities in Gaza. He vetoes UN resolutions, blocks Palestinian representation at the UN, and even floated the outrageous idea of expelling all Gazans to make way for luxury real estate.

His unconditional support for Israel makes him complicit in crimes against humanity.