Anwar said Trump was only given a “basic” welcome when he arrived, not a full state reception, adding that this was the same welcome accorded to Chinese president Xi Jinping in April.

“The welcome for president Trump was the same as the one we gave president Xi. For Trump, there was no additional welcome ceremony at Seri Perdana or the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.

In contrast, Anwar said leaders from Brazil and South Africa were given three different welcome ceremonies.

“For Brazil and South Africa, there were three welcome ceremonies, at the airport, at a cultural event with a dance performance by schoolchildren, and also at KLCC,” he said.

Anwar fired back at critics who accused him of going overboard in welcoming Trump, saying they conveniently ignored what the bilateral meetings achieved and were caught up with the cultural performance held at the airport.

He also voiced frustration that no one in the opposition had credited him for taking a firm stand with Trump over the war in Gaza.

“There has not been a single word of appreciation (from them) for standing firm in defending Malaysia’s right to uphold the principle of centrality.”

PAS took issue with the manner in which Trump was welcomed on Sunday, saying the government went overboard in rolling out the red carpet for Trump when “the people in Gaza are still suffering”.

Trump was greeted by Anwar and senior officials upon disembarking from Air Force One. The US president appeared to be in a cordial mood, joining cultural performers in a brief dance before waving the national flags of Malaysia and the US together.