President Donald Trump on Thursday visited a U.S. base installation at the center of American involvement in the Middle East as he uses his four-day visit to Gulf states to reject the “interventionism” of America’s past in the region.
President @realDonaldTrump arrives at Al Udeid Air Force Base to speak to U.S. and Qatari Troops! 🇺🇸🇶🇦 pic.twitter.com/G6P9IeNdIW
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) May 15, 2025
.@POTUS: "The American People never forget that our servicemembers and their families make incredible sacrifices each and every day, so that all Americans can be safe and be free. We love our amazing Military Families." pic.twitter.com/SzJUfpvVBd
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 15, 2025
.@POTUS: "We love and respect you. What you are doing, the service you do for your country... there is no more important profession, and I was so proud to see those reports coming in just a few days ago saying that the enrollment is at the highest level ever." ❤️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/VCWYvGfi3A
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 15, 2025
President Trump arrives at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar… pic.twitter.com/cu8sGjegzJ
— Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) May 15, 2025
In other parts of the Middle East violence flared in the West Bank, and a hospital in southern Gaza said 54 people have been killed in overnight airstrikes on the city of Khan Younis.
Trump spoke of American military strength as he addressed troops at Qatar’s al-Udeid Air Base, which was a major staging ground during the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also supported the recent U.S. air campaign against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, though the strikes themselves came from two aircraft carriers in the region.
The president has held up Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar as models for economic development in a region plagued by conflict as he works to entice Iran to come to terms with his administration on a deal to curb its nuclear program.
The President also meets business leaders in Qatar and heads to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
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Trump boasts of firings in the military
Standing in front of U.S. troops at the Qatari airbase, President Donald Trump said “we let a lot of four stars go,” touting his administration’s effort to thin the military’s top ranks.
There’s long been friction between Trump and some top generals, and he’s been more emboldened to remake the command structure in his second term.
He described some military leaders as “frickin’ losers” as he addressed the rank-and-file.
The president danced for a moment to the Village People’s “YMCA" as he wrapped up his speech.
Trump speaks of ‘overwhelming’ American military power
President Donald Trump is speaking to troops at the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
He started his speech thanking troops and discussing his Mideast trip so far, then spoke about America’s military power.
“As president, my priority is to end conflicts, not start them, but I will never hesitate to wield American power if it’s necessary to defend the United States of America or our partners,” Trump said. “And this is one of our great partners right here” in Qatar.
He added: “When we’re threatened, America’s military will answer our enemies without even thinking about it. We have overwhelming strength and devastating force.”
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Hegseth says the U.S. is restoring ‘warrior ethos’
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asserted that “wokeness and weakness” allowed the wars in the world.
“We’re restoring the warrior ethos. No more political correctness,” he told U.S. troops at Al-Udeid Air Base, before President Donald Trump addresses them.
“Sadly, over the last four years, we saw a collapse in Afghanistan. And what happened on October 7th, the war in Ukraine, violence unleashed by wokeness and weakness.”
Trump then took the stage as Lee Greenwood sang his signature song, “Proud to be an American.”