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Trump rips into major problem with Air Force One amid Qatar plane gift row as he leaves Middle East: Live updates

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President Donald Trump defended his decision to accept the gift of a plane from Qatar to use as a temporary Air Force One.

It came as he left the Middle East to return to the United States after a four-day trip.

Trump on Friday concluded his Gulf tour in Abu Dhabi after overseeing the signing of another raft of multi-billion-dollar deals.

That included securing a $1.4 trillion investment pledge from the UAE.

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Trump identifies key problem with Air Force One amid Qatar plane row

As he left the Middle East following a four-day tour President Trump took a swipe at the age of Air Force Once. He said:

I leave now and get on a 42-year-old Boeing. The new ones are coming. New ones are coming.’

The president has faced a bacjklash over his decision to accept a 747 from Qatar to use as a temprary Air Force One in the future.

The gift has been criticized by some of his own MAGA allies.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - MAY 16:  U.S. President Donald J. Trump boards Air Force One as he departs the Al Bateen Executive Airport on May 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Trump is on the fourth and final day of his visit to the Gulf to underscore the strategic partnership between the United States and regional allies including the UAE, focusing on security and economic collaboration.   (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump confirms Iran has nuclear proposal from U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media aboard Air Force One, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

President Donald Trump confirmed Iran has a proposal in hand from the U.S. for a nuclear deal.

‘They have a proposal, but more importantly, they know that they have to move quickly, or something bad, something bad’s gonna happen,’ he told reporters on Air Force One before he took off from Abu Dhabi.

US Envoy Steve Witkoff, meanwhile, held a fourth round of talks with Iranian officials moderated by Oman last weekend. More talks are planned.

Trump said Thursday the two sides are ‘very close’ to a deal.

Trump talks Biden’s health

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media accompanying him aboard Airforce One, after leaving Abu Dhabi at the end of his Middle East tour on May 16, 2025. Trump capped his Gulf tour in Abu Dhabi after signing another raft of multi-billion-dollar deals, while also securing a $1.4 trillion investment pledge from the UAE. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

President Donald Trump said he wasn’t sure when his administration would release the audio of former President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur.

Trump said that decision was up to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

‘I haven’t really looked into it,’ he said.

He said everyone knew of Biden’s condition.

‘Look everybody understands the condition of him. I know people that are 89,90, 92,93 years old and are literally perfect, but Joe was not one of them, and they did a lot of hiding,’ he said.

‘They were really playing games. And you know, you can’t do that. Our country is at stake,’ he noted, adding: ‘Everybody was holding back, including the press, including the media.’

Trump says 150 trade deals coming

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - MAY 16: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) attends the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council in the capital Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on May 16, 2025. (Photo by Waleed Zein/Anadolu via Getty Images)

By Emily Goodin, senior White House corresponent

President Donald Trump said more trade deals are coming.

At a business roundtable in Abu Dhabi, he noted that ‘150 countries that want to make a deal.

He added that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick ‘will be sending letters out, essentially telling people it will be very fair, but we’ll be telling people what they’ll be paying to do business in the United States.

Trump said ‘it’s not possible to meet the number of people that want to see us,’ which is why the letters will go out in the next two to three weeks.

Trump gifted one drop of oil

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a sample of oil that he was gifted as he attends a business forum at Qasr Al Watan during the final stop of his Gulf visit, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

President Donald Trump was gifted a box containing a single drop of oil during a forum with business leaders in Abu Dhabi.

‘This is the highest quality oil there is on the planet and they only gave me a drop so I’m not thrilled but it’s better than no drop,’ he joked.

The president is wrapping up his final day of his four-day Middle East tour.

Trump may call Putin about Ukraine

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - MAY 16:  U.S. President Donald J. Trump speaks to media on Air Force One as he departs the Al Bateen Executive Airport on May 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Trump is on the fourth and final day of his visit to the Gulf to underscore the strategic partnership between the United States and regional allies including the UAE, focusing on security and economic collaboration.   (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

By Nikki Schwab, chief campaign correspondent on Air Force One

President Donald Trump said he ‘may’ call Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a peace deal for the Ukraine.

‘We have to meet. He and I will meet,’ he told the Daily Mail when asked about it on Air Force One.

‘I think we’ll solve it, or maybe not, but at least we’ll know. And if we don’t solve it, it will be very interesting.’

Trump wraps up Middle East trip with one final stop at Abrahamic Family House

President Donald Trump tours the Eminence Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque at the Abrahamic Family House, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

President Donald Trump wrapped up his Middle East trip with a tour of the Abrahamic Family House — an interfaith complex that houses a mosque, synagogue and church.

The president, while touring the mosque portion, removed his shoes and walked in his socks.

He also visited the synagogue and church portions, and signed a guest book,

‘This was a little bit of an endurance test. … could have done it 10 times over,’ Trump said of his four-day, three-country tour.

President Donald Trump tours the Eminence Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque at the Abrahamic Family House, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

James Comey accused of making call to ‘assassinate the president’



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