Joined by some of his favorite celebrities, President Donald Trump gave a speech to troops in Qatar, where he teased a military pay raise and took credit for a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Podcast host and comedian Theo Von, who interviewed Trump on the campaign trail, was on hand, as was 82-year-old country singer Lee Greenwood, who sang his signature song, “God Bless the U.S.A.,” as Trump took the stage.
Before delivering remarks on the military, Trump again celebrated his 2024 election victory, which was fueled in part by a series of podcast appearances that were designed to reach young male voters.
Von was the surprise warm-up act for the president, where he joked about being in the Middle East. “I didn’t know I was going to be here, either. … This is definitely court-ordered. I’m just getting out of some time.”
Von, who posed for pictures individually with members of the military, was spotted recently in Miami dining with Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner.
Trump praised Von as a “great influencer.” He gave his youngest son, Barron Trump, credit for encouraging him to go on Von’s podcast. “[Barron] knew all the names, I didn’t know the names. Where is Theo? He’s around here some place. Theo, thank you very much.”
Standing before a giant sign reading, “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH,” Trump touted himself as a peacemaker, taking credit for a recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan by saying he steered the two nations toward trade and away from conflict.
“I don’t want to say I did, but I sure as hell helped settle the problem between Pakistan and India last week,” Trump said. “We talked to them about trade. ‘Let’s do trade instead of war.’ And Pakistan was very happy with that. India was very happy with that.”
While India and Pakistan did agree to a ceasefire, India has disputed Trump’s claim that trade talks settled the conflict, with a spokesman for India’s foreign ministry saying trade was not part of the conversation.
Nonetheless, Trump took some credit for the development, boasting that “I can settle anything.”
For the thousands of troops on hand at Al Udeid Air Base, the most popular portion of Trump’s remarks may have been when he mentioned a pay raise that could come next year.
“You’re a very special group of people, and that’s why my 2026 budget includes … pay raises for each and every one of you, substantial pay raises,” Trump said, drawing loud cheers from the audience. He added in jest, “You don’t have to take it. You can go to your commanding officer and say, ‘Sir, I’d rather not take that pay, I love my country, sir. I don’t want it.’”
Trump released his “13% increase in defense spending, though such appropriations would have to go through Congress for approval.
Trump is in the second half of a four-day trip through the Middle East, which includes stops in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
He said his priority as president is to end conflicts rather than start them but added he won’t hesitate to wield power when necessary.
Ahead of his speech, Trump was introduced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said that military recruitment has recovered and that he’s ending Biden administration priorities that kept people from wanting to sign up.
Trump’s ‘uncritical embrace’ of Arab partners rankles critics
“We’re restoring the warrior ethos,” Hegseth said. “No more political correctness, gender pronouns, DEI, CRT, or climate change. We’re in the business of war.”
Following the speech, Trump headed to Abu Dhabi to tour the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and participate in a UAE state visit.
