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US President Donald Trump made an unscheduled stop in Qatar on his way to Malaysia to attend the ASEAN Summit, where he met with the country’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani aboard Air Force One.
The brief meeting, which took place during a refueling stop at Al Udeid Air Base, attracted attention within the region and beyond as the leaders discussed ongoing peace efforts in Gaza.
President Trump and Qatari leaders focused on the recent Israeli-Hamas hostage crisis and broader efforts to maintain stability in the Gaza Strip, in which Qatar is acting as a facilitator in coordination with international partners.
Sheikh Tamim warmly welcomed the US president and said he would like to personally greet him as he is in Qatar.
“As soon as I found out he was coming to refuel, I said I wouldn’t let him take off without saying hello. Well, thank you very much, Mr. President, it’s always nice to see you.”
President Trump praised the emir as “one of the great rulers, not just of the Middle East, but of the world,” and thanked the two leaders for their role in peace in the region. “What we accomplished is incredible. We brought peace to the Middle East. And they were a huge factor in that. We now have a safe Middle East, and we will have it for a very long time. For a very long time.”
The emir pointed out that it was the first time he had boarded a plane to refuel and join a visiting world leader, only replying, “It’s not the first time.”
President Trump also emphasized the historic nature of the recent agreement, declaring, “There will be peace in the Middle East. This is real peace. It’s never happened before. It’s never happened in 3,000 years. And when he came to the airport and boarded the plane, I showed him great respect. It’s never happened before. And he’s a very respected man.”
After leaving Qatar and speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, President Trump reflected on his peace efforts more broadly, saying, “We talked about peace. There’s peace in the Middle East. That’s what we have. There’s great peace in the Middle East. I think he’s never seen anything like this. And he’s helped and we’ve had a lot of help. We have a lot of countries that have signed on. This is exactly what we should do.” May there be lasting peace. ”
The discussion also highlighted ongoing diplomatic engagement between the United States and Qatar. Officials said the meeting highlighted Qatar’s continued role as a mediator in the Middle East and international cooperation in support of the ceasefire and recent hostage arrangements.
The stop in Doha comes as President Trump embarks on his first Asian tour of the term, focusing on trade, investment and diplomacy. Observers noted that the unscheduled meeting on Air Force One provided a glimpse of the close cooperation between the leaders and Qatar’s active involvement in regional diplomacy.
As President Trump continues his tour, international attention will remain focused on Gaza and broader peace efforts in the region, with Qatar positioned as a key interlocutor in delicate negotiations.