President Donald Trump is being met with regal treatment on his latest Middle East tour, with Qatar rolling out a dramatic and visually striking welcome as his motorcade cruised through the streets of Doha on Wednesday, May 14.
Leading the presidential convoy were two Tesla Cybertrucks — not your standard models, but heavily customized vehicles with red-painted hoods, belonging to Qatar’s elite Internal Security Force, Lekhwiya. The red accents stood out boldly against Trump’s all-black motorcade, adding a modern twist to the ceremonial display.
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Observers noted the use of Cybertrucks could be interpreted as a show of support for Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO and head of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), who joined the American delegation on the first leg of their three-nation tour of the region, the New York Post reported.
Musk has faced significant backlash in recent months due to his aggressive proposals to slash federal staffing and spending. In March, Trump made headlines by publicly purchasing a Tesla as a gesture of support—an unusual move from a president with a historically rocky relationship with Silicon Valley.
Trump’s arrival in Qatar was a spectacle in itself. Air Force One received a VIP military escort of eight fighter jets as it approached Qatari airspace. Upon landing, Trump stood at attention as the American National Anthem played inside the Amiri Diwan, a moment shared on the White House’s Rapid Response X account.
Once on the ground, Trump met with Qatari officials and was warmly greeted by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. “We’ve been friends for a long time,” Trump said during their sit-down. “We’ve liked each other and we’ve worked with each other, and now we can work in the highest capacity… we will bring peace not only here, but… in other regions, like what’s happening with Russia and Ukraine.”
Trump hinted at potential diplomatic developments, saying “good news” could soon emerge from talks involving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. He also touched on Qatar’s controversial past, stating, “The nation of Qatar, unfortunately, has historically been a funder of terrorism at a very high level… We have to stop the funding of terrorism.”
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Prior to Qatar, Trump received an equally lavish welcome in Saudi Arabia. Air Force One was again escorted by fighter jets, and Trump’s motorcade was flanked by riders on white Arabian horses. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman even chauffeured Trump to a state dinner in a golf cart—a nod to Trump’s passion for golf.
In both nations, the events were so tightly controlled that journalists were kept far from the action, with some even asked to pledge not to shout questions. So far, Trump’s Middle East trip has been less a diplomatic visit and more a pageant of power and symbolism—one meticulously orchestrated at every turn.
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