Politico's 'Backhanded Awards' Salute Controversial Figures at Munich Security Conference

The publication highlights the most colorful and unconventional moments from the high-profile global event.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Politico has published a tongue-in-cheek 'backhanded awards' article highlighting some of the more controversial and unconventional moments and behaviors from key figures at the recent Munich Security Conference. The awards cover a range of topics, from fashion choices to combative language used by attendees.

Why it matters

The Munich Security Conference is a prestigious annual gathering of global political and military leaders, so Politico's 'awards' provide an irreverent look at how some attendees grabbed attention for the wrong reasons, underscoring the high-stakes and sometimes tense nature of the proceedings.

The details

The awards include: 'Cheekiest fashion moment' for conference chairman Wolfgang Ischinger donning sunglasses during his speech, 'Most colorful language' for Senator Lindsey Graham's combative remarks, and other categories poking fun at attention-grabbing antics by conference participants.

  • The Munich Security Conference took place from February 14-16, 2026.

The players

Wolfgang Ischinger

Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, who wore sunglasses during his opening speech as a 'jovial homage' to French President Macron.

Lindsey Graham

U.S. Senator known for his outspoken and sometimes controversial statements, who was cited for using 'most colorful language' at the conference.

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What they’re saying

“Who the hell do you think you are?”

— Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator (Politico)

The takeaway

Politico's 'backhanded awards' highlight how even high-profile global events like the Munich Security Conference can feature moments of political theater and unconventional behavior from attendees, providing a humorous counterpoint to the serious geopolitical discussions taking place.