By Chris Megerian and Zeke Miller
Doha, Qatar (AP) – Donald Trump is the most powerful and famous person on the planet, head of the greatest economy and the strongest army.
But during his trip to the Middle East this week, the American president seems more than a little envious of his Arab hosts.
He admired marble in the Qatari palace as “perfecto” and “very difficult to buy”. He praised the “sparkling wonders” of the horizon of Saudi Arabia. And he groaned the plan “much smaller” and “much less impressive” which is Air Force One.
During his flight to the region, Trump said that the Gulf States all have “these brand new Boeing 747”, when he was stuck with a version of almost 4 decades.
The president is so impatient for a replacement plane that he plans to accept a given model of Qatar, despite the concerns that he could be less safe, expensive for the renovation and a violation of the prohibition of the American Constitution on foreign gifts. He has not presented any national security imperatives for rapid upgrading rather than waiting for Boeing to end the new Air Force One planes which have been underway for years.
This looked like a case of monitoring of the Jones, but in this case, the Jones are oil-rich leaders of the Middle East autocracies. For a former real estate developer with flamboyant tastes, Trump’s trip was a glimpse of the life of his more opulent counterparts.
“The work you have done is unparalleled,” Trump told Qatari Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, looking at his environment in the palace known as Amiri Diwan. “You look at that, it’s so beautiful. As a construction person, I see perfect marble. This is what they call perfecto. “
President Donald Trump and Emir Sheikh of Qatar Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani sign documents during a signature ceremony at Amiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday May 14, 2025. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon)
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President Donald Trump and Emir Sheikh of Qatar Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani sign documents during a signature ceremony at Amiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday May 14, 2025. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon)
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There have been other sumptuous touches on the trip, which will end with a stop at the United Arab Emirates. The Air Force One received fighter hunting escorts, the honor guards were held next to the golden swords in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and presidential limousine was greeted by runners on Camelback in Doha, Qatar.
“We appreciate these camels,” Trump told Al Thani. “I haven’t seen camels like that for a long time. It was a greeting. “
The admiration of the Republican president reflects an aesthetic and political vision in contradiction with the American tradition. After declaring the independence of the British monarchy, the founding fathers wanted to avoid everything that suggested royalty. While the United States has emerged as global superpower, the country and its leaders highlighted a facade of humility.
But it was never Trump’s style. The billionaire New York Penthouse is decorated with gold and marble, and certain parts of his Mar-A-Lago club in Florida are modeled after the Palais de Versailles de la France.
After winning a second term last year, Trump is impatient to bring the same approach to the presidency, and it is likely that his visit to the Middle East will feed his desire for renovations. The White House, despite the size, can be quite cramped. The office space is limited and state dinners are sometimes held in a fancy tent to accommodate enough guests.
Trump said he wanted to build “a beautiful and beautiful ballroom as I did at Mar-A-Lago, as beautiful as possible”. He promised to pay the bill of $ 100 million.
“I think we have exceeded the tent stuff, no, don’t you think?” He said recently.
Trump also spoke of paving on the lawn in the Rose Garden, transforming it into a patio with a “magnificent stone” which would be easier to organize events.
Some upgrades have already taken place, especially in the oval office. There are gold accents on the fireplace, door arches, walls and other areas of the room. The walls are increasingly filled with portraits of previous presidents. A model of a new air force – with a paint scheme that echoes its personal jet – is on a table in the center of the room.
A precious addition is a copy of the declaration of independence, which is hidden behind a curtain to protect it from sunlight. He sometimes reveals the document for the guests.
“You see the new improved oval office as it becomes more and more beautiful,” the president of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told a recent visit. He said it had been renovated “with great love and 24 gold karat – who still helps so.”
Megerian reported to Washington.
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
