How Qatar Won Over Trump: Lavish Gifts, Billion-Dollar Deals, and Strategic Diplomacy
Qatar has pulled out all the stops to earn goodwill from former U.S. President Donald Trump—offering luxury gifts, investing heavily in the U.S., and rolling out red-carpet treatment during his recent visit—all part of a well-crafted effort to deepen ties with Washington.
One of the most striking gestures: Qatar’s plan to hand over a $400 million Boeing 747 to be converted into a new Air Force One for Trump. A senior U.S. official confirmed on May 14 that Trump has no intention of turning down the gift, saying it could be ready for use by the end of the year. Trump himself called it a "no-brainer," adding, “Only a fool would say no to a plane like that.”
“This is about accepting a gift that saves American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. There are no strings attached. It’s a beautiful aircraft at an incredible price—what’s the issue?” the official added.
A spokesperson for Qatar’s embassy in Washington confirmed that military lawyers from both nations are finalizing the transfer. “Qatar expects nothing in return,” said Ali Al Ansari, describing the gift as a reflection of the “strong security partnership” between the two countries.
Qatar has made similar high-profile gestures in the past. In 2018, it gifted a Boeing 747 to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after learning that Ankara had expressed interest in buying it. Previous rulers of Qatar have also donated aircraft to leaders in Yemen and Iraq as tokens of solidarity.
But the Boeing 747 isn’t Qatar’s only play for influence. The Gulf nation has funneled billions of dollars into the U.S. economy, primarily through arms purchases and educational investments. Over the past 15 years, Qatar has donated more than $6 billion to American universities, making it the largest foreign donor to U.S. higher education. Beneficiaries include Georgetown, Cornell, and Northwestern, all of which have campuses in Doha.
Since Trump’s first term, Qatar has worked urgently to shift his perception. Trump once accused the country of being a major sponsor of terrorism, but the tide began to turn—especially after the 747 gift and an elaborate reception in Doha on May 14.
Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, personally greeted Trump on the tarmac. The presidential motorcade, led by the “Beast,” rolled through the capital flanked by Tesla vehicles—a nod to Trump ally Elon Musk. At the Emir’s palace, Trump was welcomed by a ceremonial guard of camel and horse-mounted troops. “I love the camels,” Trump reportedly said. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen anything like that.”
Inside, the leaders sat on gold-trimmed chairs and sipped tea, with the Emir praising Trump as the first U.S. president to make an official visit to Qatar.
Behind the scenes, Qatar has also invested heavily in lobbying Washington. In 2018, it hired 23 lobbying firms to engage with over 250 Trump-world influencers, including prominent figures like lawyer Alan Dershowitz.
The same year, Qatari officials reportedly met with Steve Witkoff, a longtime friend and golf partner of Trump. In 2023, Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund purchased Witkoff’s Park Lane Hotel in New York for $623 million. Witkoff, now the U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, has since praised Qatar’s role in mediating ceasefire and hostage talks between Hamas and Israel.
The Trump family has also tapped into Qatar’s economic network. Eric Trump, on behalf of the Trump Organization, recently signed a deal with a Qatari state-owned firm to build a 790,000-square-meter golf club in the country. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, also received $1.5 billion from a joint Qatari–UAE fund for his private equity firm.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways announced a plan to purchase up to $96 billion in Boeing aircraft during Trump’s visit. And beyond commerce, Qatar’s ties with Iran, Hamas, and the Taliban make it a valuable geopolitical partner for Washington—especially in hostage negotiations and regional crises.
Qatar played a key role in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, helping evacuate tens of thousands of people in 2021. With a landmass of just over 11,000 km² and a population of 2.6 million, Qatar has built outsized influence in global affairs, rooted in both wealth and strategic positioning—sandwiched between regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Central to its security partnership with the U.S. is Al Udeid Air Base, America’s largest military installation in the Middle East. Since 2003, Qatar has invested over $8 billion into the base, which houses CENTCOM’s forward headquarters and about 10,000 U.S. troops.
“They pay for everything,” Witkoff said in a March interview, recalling a conversation with CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Kurilla. “I asked him what he thought of the Qataris. He said: ‘They’re good people—decent, reliable allies.’”
On May 15, Trump confirmed that Qatar will invest another $10 billion into the Al Udeid base over the coming years.
Spokesperson Ansari described Qatar as an “indispensable security and energy partner” for the U.S. and praised the Trump administration’s approach as “highly effective.” He reiterated Qatar’s long-term commitment to investing in the U.S., saying it supports American jobs and mutual prosperity.
“Qatar has always stood by the United States because we believe this friendship benefits both nations. It’s never been a one-way relationship,” said Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
(Sources: Wall Street Journal, Times of Israel)
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