Latest news with #MiddleEastTrip
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Kristi Noem mocked as she rides camel in Middle East
By Donald Trump 's Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was trolled after she was spotted riding a camel during her recent trip to the Middle East. She went full-on 'ICE Barbie', decked out in a headscarf and sunglasses, as she rode the large animal while touring the historic Qal'at al-Bahrain Fort on Sunday. Her well-documented trip and photo-op sparked frustration online as users questioned her motives amidst recent backlash for her past trips and 'cosplay' moments. 'And at taxpayer expense, no doubt,' one said of her recent image. 'I feel sorry for the Camel,' another jokingly wrote. 'That's all it is for her- a photo op,' someone else commented. 'Why is @KristiNoem cosplaying with camels! What is her goal in this visit,' another chimed in. Another simply asked: 'Why is the director of Homeland security riding a camel in the Middle East? How does that help America?' A user even brought up her rocky past with animals, referring to Noem openly admitting and defending herself for shooting her 14-month-old puppy Cricket. 'She's going to shoot a camel, isn't she? She already has taken out a puppy, a goat and 3 horses, so why not?,' they said. While she was there Noem also held a meeting with the county's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the Sakhir Royal Palace in Manama. Noem was also pictured driving a boat at Naval Support Activity in Manama, Bahrain and serving meals to sailors and coast guardsmen. She also traveled to Israel, where she met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While in Israel, Noem stopped to place a note and bow her head on the Western Wall - a holy site where Jews go to pray in Jerusalem. Her recent trip comes just days after she told a bunch of illegal migrants they can 'suck it', sparking a liberal meltdown. Noem's comment came after the migrants' lawsuit against the Homeland Security chief was voluntarily dropped. The suit was filed by the ACLU on behalf of ten detained migrants who the Trump administration were preparing to send to the infamous terrorist detention center in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The ACLU dropped the filing because several plaintiffs were already deported while others refused to keep the case going. That's when Noem - who has been dubbed 'ICE Barbie' for her garish wardrobe changes - delivered her savage two-word response. 'Suck it,' Noem posted along with the notice of voluntary dismissal. And just days before her X-rated response, she made an embarrassing mistake at a congressional hearing that quickly went viral. During the hearing, she appeared not to know the meaning of 'habeas corpus' after she gave a completely inaccurate definition for the key constitutional principle. The mistake came after Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) asked Noem to explain habeas corpus, which is the right of a person to challenge their detention in court. It protects individuals from being held in custody without a valid legal reason – even if they are not an American citizen. 'Secretary Noem, what is habeas corpus?' Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) asked the DHS Secretary. 'Secretary Noem was right: Presidents have suspended habeas corpus in practice—Lincoln, Grant, FDR, and Bush—all during moments of crisis,' DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin later told the Daily Mail when asked about the interaction. She added: 'Technically, Congress holds that power under the Constitution, but in reality, presidents have acted first, and legal authority followed. The precedent is real.' However, social media critics jumped on the flub.
Associated Press
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
AP PHOTOS: US Homeland Security Secretary Noem visits Middle East
During her trip to the Middle East, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited a naval base in Bahrain, where she met with coast guard personnel, served meals and signed autographs. She also toured the historic Qal'at al-Bahrain Fort on camelback and held a meeting with the country's king. On Sunday, she traveled to Israel and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Trump's latest approval rating revealed as he secures trillion-dollar trade deals and brokers Mideast peace
President Donald Trump 's approval rating rebounded as his tariff sparked terror has subsided and he concludes a successful trip to the Middle East. Trump tracking poll, conducted with J.L. Partners, shows his approval rating now at 50 percent. It is up five points from 45 percent result at the end of his first 100 days over two weeks ago, his lowest point in his second term to date. Trump's approval numbers improved in most political demographics, but the president still struggles to win over some more pessimistic Independents. Among voters 18-29, his approval rating has jumped six points from the previous poll, which demonstrated support from young people falling precipitously by double digits. His support among men has jumped to 58 percent, up seven points and his support ticked up among women by two points to 42 percent. The poll was conducted May 13–14 among a sample of 1,003 registered voters with a 3.1 percent margin of error. Among Republicans, Trump's rating jumped nine points to a stunning 94 percent. Even more Democrats are more supportive of the president as his rating jumped nine points to 21 percent. The president continues to slide among Independents, however, down seven points from the previous poll. His approval rating jumped among Hispanics by 15 points and 16 points among black Americans. Trump's approval is back at 50 percent - a serious win for the President,' James Johnson, Co-Founder of J.L. Partners, told the Daily Mail about the results. Johnson cited Trump's successful deals on trade and tariffs as the 'most likely' drivers of his numbers improving as well as his successful trip to the Middle East. 'The most important thing this shows is that Trump can bounce back when some of his voters waver,' he said. 'People who were concerned about the sense of direction and strength after tariffs reversals are now back on board as they see the President doing what they feel he does best: making deals.' Trump began the week making a deal with China to suspend some of his more draconian tariffs as negotiations continue on some kind of trade deal. The stock market roared back at the news, calming investors who felt the 120 percent tariffs on China were unworkable for the American economy. The poll was conducted as Trump embarked on his first major foreign trip touting trillion-dollar foreign investments in the U.S. Trump began his trip celebrating the news that the last living American hostage Edan Alexander was released by Hamas. As he traveled to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates, he was warmly received and promoted peace in the Middle East. 'I believe it is God's job to sit in judgment, my job, to defend America and to promote the fundamental interest of stability, prosperity, and peace,' Trump said during a speech to Saudi Arabia's leaders on Tuesday. 'That's what I really want to do.' Trump met with Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday, lifting sanctions on his nation, and urged him to normalize ties with Israel. He also trumpeted the successful investment agreements with Middle East that surpassed a trillion dollars. 'This was a fantastic moment for our country, everybody is talking about it, the respect shown to our country is incredible,' Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as his trip concluded. Trump also successfully negotiated a ceasefire between Pakistan and India last weekend, adding to his efforts to make peace in hot spots around the world. The president's attempt to achieve peace between Ukraine and Russia remains elusive, although talks continued this week in Turkey with the respective parties. Trump
Free Malaysia Today
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Trump ‘thinking' of flying to Turkey for Ukraine-Russia talks
The US president floated the thought to journalists before departing for his Middle East trip. (AP pic) WASHINGTON : US President Donald Trump said he is 'thinking' of flying to Turkey on Thursday for possible talks between Ukraine and Russia on the more than three-year war sparked by Moscow's invasion of its neighbour. 'I was thinking about actually flying over there. There's a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen,' Trump told journalists at the White House prior to departing for a trip to the Middle East. 'I think you may have a good result out of the Thursday meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine, and I believe the two leaders were going to be there,' he said. Asked if he would sanction Russia if President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a 30-day ceasefire, Trump said: 'I have a feeling they're going to agree. I do. I have a feeling.' The prospect of direct Russia-Ukraine talks on ending the war – the first since the early months of Moscow's 2022 invasion – has been welcomed by Washington and across Europe. Tens of thousands have been killed and millions forced to flee their homes since Russia invaded Ukraine, while its army now controls around one-fifth of the country – including the Crimean peninsula, annexed in 2014.
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.
