President Donald Trump recently completed a whirlwind Middle East tour packed with lavish events and dramatic moments.
In this article, we reveal Trump’s true thoughts on his made-for-TV Middle East swing, filled with pomp and political moves.
Trump called his Middle East trip a test of US stamina and diplomacy
After his nearly four-day visit, Trump called the trip an “endurance test,” praising the stamina of everyone involved.
He joked with reporters, saying, “You have great stamina, also. We all have stamina. You needed it. That was a test. I think they were giving us a test”.
The president toured Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates with late nights and opulent state dinners.
Trump’s Middle East trip matched his showman style
Trump’s arrival in Riyadh featured Arabian horses beside his motorcade. This created a sriking visual for cameras.
In Qatar, camels were part of the spectacle — both as a sight and as a dish on the table.
The UAE leg included a traditional “Al-Ayyala” dance with hair flips to welcome Trump to a grand palace.
These moments played perfectly to Trump’s flair for drama and media-friendly appearances.
Trump promoted US deals, contrasting Biden’s style
During the visit, Trump highlighted billions of dollars in investments across healthcare, energy, and entertainment sectors.
He boasted about the U.S. winning deals and said, “There’s no more wooing. We’re in pretty good shape.”
He teased reporters, asking if Biden would be personally selling American business abroad like he does.
He said: ‘I’m just thinking – we have a President of the United States doing the selling. You think Biden would be doing this? I don’t think so’.
‘And you know, they were being wooed by others, but there’s no more wooing. I think we’re in pretty good shape. There’s no more wooing,’ Trump boasted.
Trump sidestepped Qatar plane controversy
During an interview, Trump sidestepped controversy over the gifted qatar plane.
Trump did not mention the gift publicly but defended it in an interview, calling the old plane “not right.”
‘When you look at a new 747, and you look at a plane that’s 42 years old, not even the same plane, the other ones are bigger and sleeker and sharper. And it doesn’t look right,’ he told Baier.
He said Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was insulted by the negative reactions.
‘I think he was insulted, actually. He made a gift to help somebody that has helped them,’ Trump went on.
Trump held a patriotic rally for troops at Doha’s air base
Trump’s campaign-style rally honored troops with tanks, drones, and warplanes decorating the hangar.
Singer Lee Greenwood performed Trump’s walk-on song live, while comedian Theo Von entertained the audience.
The event echoed Trump’s famous 2019 Fourth of July Lincoln Memorial celebration.
Trump’s private meeting with Syria’s president signaled US policy shift
In Saudi Arabia, Trump announced he would lift Assad-era sanctions on Syria as a favor to key regional leaders.
The next day, he met privately with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former militant on the U.S. terrorist watchlist.
This policy reversal abandons previous neo-conservative ideas and gives a chance to rebuild Syria with a “strong past” leader.
The move earned bipartisan praise. While, Trump can issue waivers or seek congressional approval for the sanctions relief.
During the trip, Trump visited two mosques, marking his first such visits as president.
This was a notable change from his 2016 campaign when he criticized then-President Obama’s mosque visit.
These mosque visits signaled a warmer approach to Muslim communities and Middle East diplomacy.