President Donald Trump touched down in Qatar on Wednesday, where he was greeted by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, making him the first American president to visit the oil-rich Gulf nation.
Upon arrival in Doha, Trump’s motorcade — escorted by Qatari police using Tesla Cybertrucks — was given a lavish ceremonial welcome by Qataris riding ceremonial horses and camels upon arriving at the Amiri Diwan, the official workplace of the Amir.
.@POTUS arrives at the Amiri Diwan in Doha 🇺🇸🇶🇦 pic.twitter.com/CZt28tCBid
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 14, 2025
Trump saluted as the American National Anthem played inside the Amiri Diwan shortly after his arrival, a video posted to the White House’s Rapid Response X account shows. Trump then greeted the Qatari officials while Al-Thani greeted the American delegation.
“We’ve been friends for a long time,” Trump said while sitting down with Al-Thani. “We’ve liked each other and we’ve worked with each other and now we can work in the highest capacity and we will bring peace not only here, but I know you’re very much involved in helping us in other regions, like what’s happening with Russia and Ukraine.”
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He added that he thinks there is “good news” coming out of the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Touting his history in construction, Trump complimented the Amiri Diwan, pointing out its “perfect marble.”
“This is what they call perfecto,” Trump said. “Just a great job you’ve done and what a beautiful place.”
.@POTUS to the Emir of Qatar: "It's been a very loyal, great, beautiful friendship" 🇺🇸🇶🇦 pic.twitter.com/JKvOYBEkru
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 14, 2025
Trump also thanked the Qataris for the warm greeting, saying that he appreciated the camels and hadn’t “seen camels like that in a long time.”
“That was some greeting. We appreciate it very much.”
Al-Thani welcomed Trump, and pointed out that Trump is the first American president to visit Qatar.
“We are extremely honored to have you here,” he said. “It’s a historic visit and I don’t know if you know, you are the first American president officially to visit Qatar so we are very honored.”
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Trump’s trip initially got off to a controversial start following reports that the president is preparing to accept a $400 million Boeing 747 jumbo jet from Qatar, which would be available for Trump to use in lieu of Air Force One. Shortly before he leaves office, the plane would then be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation.
The gift has caused bipartisan uproar with critics who say it’s a signal that Qatar — a massive funder and enabler of terrorist groups — is trying to gain influence in the Trump administration.
Trump defended the gift as an affordable way to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One.
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“So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane,” he posted. “Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!!”
The warm visit stands in contrast to Trump’s June 2017 views on Qatar, when he accused the country of backing terrorism.
“The nation of Qatar, unfortunately, has historically been a funder of terrorism at a very high level, and in the wake of that conference, nations came together and spoke to me about confronting Qatar over its behavior,” Trump said. “So we had a decision to make: Do we take the easy road, or do we finally take a hard but necessary action? We have to stop the funding of terrorism.”
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