Trump Ends His Gulf Tour: 'They Don't Want a Fist Bump. They Want to Shake His Hand' (May 16, 2025)

President Donald Trump wrapped up his Gulf tour saying America’s friends there had been neglected for years, and he took a shot at Joe Biden’s handling of them. “I shook more hands than any human being is capable of doing,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as it landed in Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2025, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project. “But they were starving for love because our country didn’t give them love.” [1]

“Remember the fist bump in Saudi Arabia?” Trump said, recalling Biden’s 2022 visit. “They don’t want a fist bump. They want to shake his hand.” [1]

The video above shows Trump’s last day of the Gulf trip in Abu Dhabi on May 16, 2025. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project [1][2][3][4][5].

”They Felt Abandoned”

“But they felt abandoned. They were going to be captured by China from the standpoint of trade, and that’s not going to happen anymore,” Trump said [1].

Before flying home, he called it “a historic 4 days.” [3]

“And the respect shown to our country was incredible, because nobody is treated like that,” Trump said [3].

”Nearly 100” Boeings

On a tour of a U.S.-UAE investment exhibit at the Qasr Al Watan palace, Abu Dhabi official Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa said “our backbone aircraft is actually Boeing at Etihad Airways.” [2]

He said the airline is “doubling our capacity and our fleet with Boeing from 57 to nearly 100” planes [2].

“We look forward to basically supporting them in doubling their fleet over the next several years, both in terms of maintenance and new airplanes,” said Boeing’s Stephanie Pope [2].

“And finally, Mr. President, we just signed also the naming rights of the New York City Football Club by Etihad,” Al Shorafa said. Told the stadium would sit next to Citi Field, Trump said: “I grew up in Queens. I know the area very well.” [2]

At an AI exhibit with Oracle, Trump praised Oracle chairman Larry Ellison. “Larry is a great—he’s a great guy. A great man, actually,” he said. “This is a real pioneering thing, and so many good things are going to come out of AI.” [2]

He said “the number of plants being built in the United States is at a level that nobody can even imagine.” [2]

And when his hosts mentioned their UFC partnership, Trump said: “And there’s nobody better than Dana White.” [2]

Trump pointed to the aluminum plant planned for Oklahoma. “They’re building a big plant in the U.S. There’s no tariff,” he said [2].

“We are exporting 700,000 tons. Now we’re going to make it in the U.S.,” said EGA Chairman Homaid Al Shimmari [2].

“Mr. President, Tulsa, with the Governor, we’ll need you to break ground over there,” said Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, managing director of the Abu Dhabi fund Mubadala [2].

Trump joked about who would get the credit. “Whoever is the next President is going to say what a great job they did,” he said, to laughter [2].

”A Lot of People Are Starving”

“And we’re looking at Gaza, and we got to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving,” Trump said [2].

At departure, he added: “We have to help also out the Palestinians. You know, a lot of people are starving on Gaza, so we have to look at both sides.” [3]

On lifting sanctions on Syria, Trump said: “Look, we want Syria to succeed.” He added: “And this way, they have a chance.” [3]

On the India-Pakistan ceasefire, he said: “That was a big success.” [3]

“See That Little Baby”

“My daughter had a baby. I’m going to go back home and see that little baby,” Trump said [2].

“We got to stop the killing. Five thousand people a week,” he said of the Russia-Ukraine war [2].

“Look, nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together,” Trump said on Air Force One [1].

“He and I will meet. I think we’ll solve it. Or maybe not, but at least we’ll know,” Trump said before leaving Abu Dhabi [3].

Asked about Austin Tice, the American journalist missing in Syria, Trump said: “I always talk about Austin Tice.” He added: “He’s got a great mother who’s just working so hard to find her boy.” [3]

Asked about recordings of Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur, Trump said: “And they did a lot of hiding.” He added: “And you know, you can’t do that. Our country is at stake.” [3]

“A Message of Unity”

At the Abrahamic Family House, Trump signed the guestbook. “This was a great and just an amazing day,” he said [5].

Asked for his message to the people of Abu Dhabi, Trump said: “Well, it’s just a message of unity. When you look at what we’ve just seen, it’s great unity, great faith.” [5]

By the Numbers

4 days: the length of the Gulf trip, per Trump [3].
57 to nearly 100: Etihad’s Boeing fleet, per Al Shorafa [2].
700,000 tons: the aluminum EGA said it exports and will now make in the U.S., per its chairman [2].
5,000: people a week dying in the Russia-Ukraine war, per Trump [2].

What Happened Next

Trump and Putin got together. On Aug. 15, 2025, Trump met Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. “And I will say that I believe we had a very productive meeting. There were many, many points that we agreed on—most of them, I would say,” Trump said [4].

“So there’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump said. “I will call up NATO in a little while.” [4]

For Trump’s first day in Abu Dhabi, see HYGO News’ page on May 15, 2025. For Trump’s business roundtable in Doha, see the page on May 15, 2025.