Donald Trump has landed in the United Arab Emirates. He’s already made news today in Qatar, with claims about a deal to stop Iran getting nuclear weapons and comments about VE Day. Watch and follow live with Trump in the UAE below.
Thursday 15 May 2025 14:26, UK
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Donald Trump is now being shown around the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
„Isn’t this beautiful? It’s so beautiful,“ he says to the camera as he pauses for a moment.
„This is an incredible culture. I’m very proud of my friends. Thank you.
„This is the first time they’ve closed the mosque for the day, is that true? The first time they’ve closed it. It’s an honour.“
You can watch Trump in the stream at the top of this page.
Now that Donald Trump has touched down in the United Arab Emirates, let’s revisit that schedule we told you about earlier (see 7.36 post).
His timings have slipped after leaving Qatar later than planned, but we’re expecting Trump to be at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque for around an hour before travelling to the Ritz Carlton Grand Canal for executive time with officials.
He will then head to Qasr Al Watan (Palace of the Nation) where there will be a state greeting, bilateral meetings and a guest book signing.
Like his visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Trump will be given a state dinner this evening.
Donald Trump has been welcomed to the United Arab Emirates by the country’s president after stepping off Air Force One.
It’s the final stop of his Middle East tour, which has also included visits to Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Here’s a look at how he was welcomed to Abu Dhabi…
Donald Trump has just touched down in Abu Dhabi for the final stop on his Middle East tour.
The US president walked out the door of Air Force One and, unlike most of his visits, didn’t have to walk down any steps.
That’s because there was an air bridge connected to the plane, meaning he’s been able to greet officials right outside the aircraft.
He’s been given flowers on his arrival and has been met by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Donald Trump has tucked into a spaghetti and meatballs lunch while on Air Force One travelling to the United Arab Emirates.
He then spoke to the reporters on board, and said nothing is going to happen on Russia and Ukraine until he meets Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, Trump said he’s raised trillions from his Middle East tour, adding Saudi Arabia and Qatar are good friends.
He went on to say the United Arab Emirates felt abandoned and were going to be consumed by China.
The Middle East is a very good place for Donald Trump to project „political theatre and feel-good energy“, an expert on the region has said.
Speaking to Gareth Barlow, Jane Kinninmont said those are things that Gulf leaders like to do.
„This is a very rich, dynamic, fast-growing part of the world and the way that the leaders tend to speak there, it’s always about things being the biggest, the best,“ she said.
Kinninmont said there’s an appetite in the Middle East „for an American president to come and say I’m a guy who wants to end wars and not start them“.
But she added that what is happening in Gaza undermines that, pointing out that people in the region would have been hoping Trump’s visit could be an occasion to announce progress in ending the war.
Watch the full interview in the video below.
With Donald Trump on his way to the final stop on his Middle East tour – the United Arab Emirates – let’s revisit a key moment from yesterday when he met Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa.
He might have teased one in the past, but Trump said the possibility of a Trump Tower being built in Damascus was not discussed when he met al Sharaa.
„No, that I haven’t heard,“ he said with a smile. „We’ll have to wait a little while.“
However, Trump did praise his Syrian counterpart as an „attractive“ and „tough“ leader while on board Air Force One.
Here’s Sky’s lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim on the significance of their meeting.
As Donald Trump’s trip to Qatar draws to a close, he has been described as bringing a „new spirit“ to the Middle East on his tour.
Dr Majed al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry, told The World with Yalda Hakim „it’s the first ever state visit for a US president in Qatar“.
„We look at this as an opportunity not only to renew our partnership with the US, but also to put on the table a lot of issues and use this as a momentum building for the issue that we want to talk about, you know, Syria and everything else.“
Al Ansari went on to say there’s a „new spirit“ with the US in talks.
„We are quite optimistic when it comes to Trump’s visit here and the effect it will have on peace in the region.
„President Trump and the emir said that both men are men of peace and they have peace in their eyes, and that’s what they want to do in the region.“
Now that Donald Trump has finished his speech, let’s take you back to a moment from earlier when he mentioned the recent military parades which have taken place in the West marking the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory against Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
„Everybody was celebrating but us, and we’re the ones that won the war,“ he said.
„We won the war and they help, but without us they don’t win the war, they’re all speaking German and maybe a little Japanese too.“
Trump then singled out France, a country which he said he „likes“, but he said: „I think we did a little more to win the war than France did.“
The US president was probably referring to France being invaded by the Nazis. Much of it was occupied for years during the war.
But VE Day, which was marked on 8 May in most of Europe and 9 May in Russia, celebrates countries being liberated by the US and the Allies, as well as the victory itself – a point Trump chose not to focus on.
Wrapping up his speech, Donald Trump says „my trip is four and a half days but this is the one I was so looking forward to“.
„We love and respect you and what you’re doing, the service you do for your country,“ he says.
Trump tells the US troops that he had to „suffer“ running against people who „allowed that reputation of what you stood for and what you stand for to deteriorate“.
„Just remember this, you have a job now that everybody wants,“ he says.
„A year ago we were laughed at, but nobody is laughing at our country any more, we’re the most respected country anywhere in the world.“
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Trump live: President arrives in UAE – after singling out France with comments about WWII – Sky News
