Latest news with #LusailPalace
CTV News
20-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Elon Musk says he's committed to still be Tesla's CEO in 5 years' time
Elon Musk gestures as he arrives for a state dinner hosted by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in honour of U.S. President Donald Trump at Lusail Palace in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
From castles to camels: A look inside the jaw-dropping displays by Middle Eastern leaders to woo Trump
The leaders of the Middle Eastern countries that President Donald Trump is visiting this week have discovered the keys to the American leader's heart - grand displays and glitzy architecture. Trump was pumped for the pomp put on display in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia as he leaves for the United Arab Emirates mid-day Thursday. He was hosted by both leaders in a series of palaces and other grand buildings that met his love of the ostentatious. On Wednesday night, Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a state dinner for Trump at the opulent Lusail Palace. There were camels on hand - and eaten by guests - and Arabian horses leading the Beast, the presidential limo, to the palace's doors. Once Trump got out of his vehicle, he was immediately treated to a performance by sword-dancers. While signing business and defense agreements early Wednesday evening alongside the emir, the 78-year-old former real estate developer stopped and asked those in the room to take in its architecture. 'This room is the real deal. That's called white marble. It's very hard to buy, believe me, I know very well, because you try to buy it and you can't buy it,' Trump said. 'And you just take a look at what you have here. It's been incredible - what you've been able to build as a nation.' The Qatari state visit was taking place in the Amiri Diwan, the official administrative offices of the Emir, which started out as an 18th Century fort. Trump arrived to the Amiri Diwan Wednesday afternoon to great fanfare. His motorcade was led by two Qatarified Cybertrucks - a nod to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's role in Trumpworld. The billionaire DOGE leader had showed up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the first day of Trump's trip. As the Beast arrived at the Amiri Diwan, Trump was able to take in dozens of camels. There were riders on Arabian horses stationed outside for him as well - but the camels were new, as there were Arabian horses for Trump the day before in Saudi. 'We appreciate those camels. I haven't seen camels like that in a long time. That was some greeting,' the president told the emir during their initial sit-down. He complimented the marble at this point too. 'As a construction person I'm seeing perfect marble. This is what they call - perfecto,' Trump said. President Donald Trump complimented the camels that Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani used for both his arrival ceremony and that lined the state ahead of Wednesday night's state dinner The night before, Trump was treated to a tour of Diriyah - what is being touted as Saudi Arabia's 'premier lifestyle destination' - a giga-project built adjacent to the At-Turaif a UNESCO World Heritage that served as the first home for Saudi's still-ruling royal family, the House of Saud. Development of the site will include 40 hotels and more than 300 residential units. Trump's own company, the Trump Organization, is developing projects in all three of the countries that he's visiting, with one property in the UAE already open and another six planned. At Diriyah, the president was greeted by gowned chanters and drummers as the ancient Salwa Palace was illuminated in the background. At every stop in Saudi, Trump was personally greeted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, or 'MBS.' The two chatted and smiled, posing for photographers and then toured a model of the giga-project with their entourage, which in Trump's case included Elon Musk and several Cabinet secretaries. Then MBS personally drove Trump around the larger site in a golf cart. This came after the Saudis treated Trump to two official welcome ceremonies - one at the Royal Terminal of the King Khalid International Airport - where only royal family members and diplomatic guests have access - and again at the Royal Court. The Saudi crown prince rolled out a lavender carpet - the color of royalty - for President Donald Trump when he arrived in Riyadh first thing Tuesday morning Lavender carpets - the color of royalty - were rolled out at each locale. A military guard lined the carpets at the airport, while the Beast was accompanied by Arabian horses to the Royal Court. Once inside, Trump participated in a coffee ceremony and held several meetings with MBS and Saudi and U.S. business leaders in giant ornate ballrooms. The president delivered foreign policy remarks Tuesday afternoon at another ornate location - the King Adbul Aziz International Conference Center - greeting guests with a domed entryway, far more opulent than the one in the U.S. Capitol, and featuring an enormous chandelier. Trump stayed in a grand locale too - but one with a colorful past. He stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Riyadh, which MBS used to jail purged Saudi officials and family members in 2017 consolidate power.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Trump signs $200bn Qatar deal after hailing meeting with Syria's ‘young, attractive' president: Live updates
Trump greets Qatari and U.S. delegations before state dinner In the atrium of the Lusail Palace, Trump looked over at the press and spread his arms out. 'Nice house! Nice house!' he said. Then he and the Qatari leader walked over to greet a receiving line of people, which stretched into a hallway. There was a large number of people in traditional Qatari dress, but also a significant number of people in Western suits. Among them was Chris Ruddy, the founder of Newsmax; Antonio Gracias, a close friend of Elon Musk's; and the British journalist Piers Morgan. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg was also seen, along with Fox News anchor Bret Baier and Patrick Soon-Shiong, the medical investor and Los Angeles Times owner. Elon Musk arrived more than 30 minutes into the greetings and cut in line to get to the front. Steve Schwarzman, the CEO of Blackstone, seemed to come with Musk. Steve Witkoff, Stephen Miller, Pete Hegseth, and Scott Bessent went through the line as did several White House officials, including Susie Wiles, James Blair, Karoline Leavitt, and Margo Martin. Towards the end of the line was Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA. The organization handed the World Cup to Qatar in 2022 and awarded it to the United States for 2026.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump's MAGA ladies steal the show during grand Middle East tour.... with one notable absence
No Melania, no problem. Without the first lady on President Donald Trump 's Middle East trip the women of Trumpworld have been stealing the show. On Wednesday night the president had White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and longtime aide Margo Martin accompany him in the Beast to the state dinner hosted by Qatar 's Emir Tamin bin Hamad Al Thani at the opulent Lusail Palace. Leavitt wore a violet caped dress, while Martin sported a black pantsuit and big heels. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles went with a light yellow blazer. There were questions ahead of the trip about whether women in Trump's entourage would cover their heads in Saudi Arabia - the first stop of the three country tour. Trump had been critical in 2015 when then first lady Michelle Obama didn't wear a headscarf. 'Many people are saying it was wonderful that Mrs. Obama refused to wear a scarf in Saudi Arabia, but they were insulted,' Trump tweeted at the time. 'We have enuf enemies.' But two years later in 2017 during their last trip to the region, first lady Melania Trump also opted for a more western-look. That's been the case on this week's trip as well - as Trump has yet to tour any Muslim religious sites, in which it would be appropriate for women to cover their heads. On Tuesday, during meetings with Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman or 'MBS,' Wiles left her silver bob uncovered, and wore a baby blue oversized blazer over a conservative black top, black slacks and pointed black block heels. Leavitt also went with pastels - wearing a shiny mint green pantsuit as she bustled alongside the president, Cabinet secretaries, top aides and the White House press at the Royal Court. Martin, who serves as a special assistant and communications adviser to the president, shared a picture of her look on her Instagram page. She chose a baby blue pantsuit over a white top - and posed in front of a sign boasting the name of the Saudi capital. On Wednesday, Leavitt was spotted in a grey pantsuit during daytime meetings with the emir. Qatar's dress code is less restrictive than Saudi Arabia's and Saudi has loosened up - especially for western women - in recent years. In 2018, MBS proclaimed that women no longer had to wear a hijab and an abaya by law, unless visiting religious sites. During the 2017 trip to Saudi, Melania Trump didn't visit a mosque, where the first lady would have needed to cover her head to be culturally appropriate. However, Ivanka Trump visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi during a trip to the United Arab Emirates in February 2020 and wore a head covering. The president heads to Abu Dhabi on Thursday - and could follow suit.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
From glitzy castles to marching camels: A look inside the jaw-dropping displays by Middle Eastern leaders to woo Trump including opulent architecture and sword-wielding surprises
The leaders of the Middle Eastern countries that President Donald Trump is visiting this week have discovered the keys to the American leader's heart - grand displays and glitzy architecture. Trump was pumped for the pomp put on display in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia as he leaves for the United Arab Emirates mid-day Thursday. He was hosted by both leaders in a series of palaces and other grand buildings that met his love of the ostentatious. On Wednesday night, Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a state dinner for Trump at the opulent Lusail Palace. There were camels on hand, and Arabian horses - leading the Beast, the presidential limo, to the palace's doors. Once Trump got out of his vehicle, he was immediately treated to a performance by sword-dancers. While signing business and defense agreements early Wednesday evening alongside the emir, the 78-year-old former real estate developer stopped and asked those in the room to take in its architecture. 'This room is the real deal. That's called white marble. It's very hard to buy, believe me, I know very well, because you try to buy it and you can't buy it,' Trump said. 'And you just take a look at what you have here. It's been incredible - what you've been able to build as a nation.' The Qatari state visit was taking place in the Amiri Diwan, the official administrative offices of the Emir, which started out as an 18th Century fort. Trump arrived to the Amiri Diwan Wednesday afternoon to great fanfare. His motorcade was led by two Qatarified Cybertrucks - a nod to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's role in Trumpworld. The billionaire DOGE leader had showed up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the first day of Trump's trip. As the Beast arrived at the Amiri Diwan, Trump was able to take in dozens of camels. There were riders on Arabian horses stationed outside for him as well - but the camels were new, as there were Arabian horses for Trump the day before in Saudi. 'We appreciate those camels. I haven't seen camels like that in a long time. That was some greeting,' the president told the emir during their initial sit-down. He complimented the marble at this point too. 'As a construction person I'm seeing perfect marble. This is what they call - perfecto,' Trump said. The night before, Trump was treated to a tour of Diriyah - what is being touted as Saudi Arabia's 'premier lifestyle destination' - a giga-project built adjacent to the At-Turaif a UNESCO World Heritage that served as the first home for Saudi's still-ruling royal family, the House of Saud. Development of the site will include 40 hotels and more than 300 residential units. Trump's own company, the Trump Organization, is developing projects in all three of the countries that he's visiting, with one property in the UAE already open and another six planned. At Diriyah, the president was greeted by gowned chanters and drummers as the ancient Salwa Palace was illuminated in the background. At every stop in Saudi, Trump was personally greeted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, or 'MBS.' The two chatted and smiled, posing for photographers and then toured a model of the giga-project with their entourage, which in Trump's case included Elon Musk and several Cabinet secretaries. Then MBS personally drove Trump around the larger site in a golf cart. This came after the Saudis treated Trump to two official welcome ceremonies - one at the Royal Terminal of the King Khalid International Airport - where only royal family members and diplomatic guests have access - and again at the Royal Court. Lavender carpets - the color of royalty - were rolled out at each locale. A military guard lined the carpets at the airport, while the Beast was accompanied by Arabian horses to the Royal Court. Once inside, Trump participated in a coffee ceremony and held several meetings with MBS and Saudi and U.S. business leaders in giant ornate ballrooms. The president delivered foreign policy remarks Tuesday afternoon at another ornate location - the King Adbul Aziz International Conference Center - greeting guests with a domed entryway, far more opulent than the one in the U.S. Capitol, and featuring an enormous chandelier. Trump stayed in a grand locale too - but one with a colorful past.
