Trump in Doha: 'The Largest Order of Jets in the History of Boeing' and a $1.2 Trillion Deal With Qatar (May 14, 2025)

President Donald Trump made the first official visit by an American president to Qatar and came home with a record order for American jets. “Kelly is telling me, from Boeing, it’s the largest order of jets in the history of Boeing. That’s pretty good,” Trump said at a signing ceremony with Qatar’s Amir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha on May 14, 2025, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

“Today in Qatar, President Donald J. Trump signed an agreement with Qatar to generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion,” the White House said [2].

The video above shows Trump in Doha on May 14, 2025. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project [1][2][3][4][5].

”Boeing’s Largest-Ever Widebody Order”

“Boeing and GE Aerospace secured a landmark order from Qatar Airways, a $96 billion agreement to acquire up to 210 American-made Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines,” the White House said [2].

“This is Boeing’s largest-ever widebody order and largest-ever 787 order,” it said [2].

“This historic agreement will support 154,000 U.S. jobs annually, totaling over 1 million jobs in the United States during the course of production and delivery of this deal,” the White House said [2].

“So that’s a record, Kelly, and congratulations to Boeing. Get those planes out there,” Trump said, to laughter [1].

“President Trump also announced economic deals totaling more than $243.5 billion between the United States and Qatar,” the fact sheet says [2].

Drones, Defense and a Trade Surplus

“Raytheon, an RTX business, secured a $1 billion agreement for Qatar’s acquisition of counter-drone capabilities, signed by the U.S. and Qatari governments,” the White House said [2].

“General Atomics secured a nearly $2 billion agreement for Qatar’s acquisition of the MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft system,” the fact sheet says [2].

“The United States and Qatar also signed a statement of intent to further strengthen our security partnership, outlining over $38 billion in potential investments including support for burden-sharing at Al Udeid Air Base,” the White House said [2].

“The United States had a $2 billion trade surplus with Qatar in 2024 and has had a positive trade balance with Qatar since 2003,” the fact sheet notes [2].

”A Man of Peace”

“Mr. President, I’ve known you for many years. I know that you’re a man of peace. I know that you want to bring peace to this region,” the Amir told Trump [3].

“It’s been a very loyal, great, beautiful friendship, and the job you’ve done is second to none,” Trump said [3].

He admired the palace. “As a construction person, I’m seeing perfect marble,” Trump said, to laughter. “And we appreciate those camels.” [3]

The Amir looked ahead to America’s turn as host. “We were lucky that, in 2022, we had the World Cup here in Qatar, and there wasn’t one incident during the World Cup,” he said [3].

At the state dinner that night, Trump said he was “honored to be the first American President ever to officially visit your great country.” [4]

“Your country now stands as a hub of global commerce, acts as a key diplomatic force on the world stage, and has even hosted the World Cup,” Trump told the Amir. To FIFA President Gianni Infantino, he said: “Congratulations, Gianni, because you’re going to be with us next.” [4]

“Eight F-15s”

“Earlier today we were honored by the escort of eight F–15s from your air force,” Trump said at the dinner [4].

He said he asked the pilot of Air Force One whether the escort was needed, “And he gave me a bad answer.” [4]

“But you look out and you can read the pilot’s name on his helmet, and it’s pretty close,” Trump said [4].

”The Last Living American Hostage”

Trump thanked Qatar for its help in Gaza. “Our Qatari partners showed that spirit last weekend when you helped negotiate the release of the last living American hostage in Gaza, Edan Alexander,” he said [4].

“And hopefully, this is a stepping stone toward getting the rest of the hostages back,” Trump said [4].

”Two Courses” on Iran

“We certainly discussed Iran, where it’s been really an interesting situation. I have a feeling it’s going to work out,” Trump said at the signing [1].

At dinner, he laid out the choice. “There’s a friendly and a nonfriendly, and the nonfriendly is a violent course, and I don’t want that,” Trump said [4].

“And we want to have this end peacefully, not horribly,” he said [4].

By the Numbers

$1.2 trillion: the economic exchange in the agreement, per the White House [2].
$243.5 billion+: in deals announced, per the White House [2].
Up to 210: Boeing jets in the $96 billion Qatar Airways order, per the White House [2].
154,000: U.S. jobs a year the deal supports, per the White House [2].
8: Qatari F-15s that escorted Air Force One, per Trump [4].

What Happened Next

The rest of the hostages came home. On Oct. 13, 2025, Trump told Israel’s Knesset: “And after so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a holy land that is finally at peace.” [5]

He thanked “all of the nations of the Arab and Muslim world that came together to press Hamas to set the hostages free and to send them home.” [5]

For Trump’s speech in Riyadh the day before, see HYGO News’ page on May 13, 2025. For Netanyahu at the White House and the hostages, see the page on April 7, 2025.