'Cringe': Internet blasts Trump for praising 'handsome' Middle East leaders
President Donald Trump arrived in Qatar during his Middle East tour, where he met with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and gushed with praise.
It was reported over the weekend that Qatar was gifting Trump a $400 million luxury plane to use as the new Air Force One. The plane would then be gifted to Trump's presidential library.
Trump celebrated the emir and compared him to Saudi Arabia's prime minister, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
"We came from Saudi Arabia where we have another great man over there that's a friend of yours. You guys get along so well and like each other. You sorta remind me a little bit of each other if you wanna know the truth. They're both tall handsome guys who happen to be very smart," said Trump.
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The comment sparked annoyance and disgust from those watching online.
Journalist Kushan Mitra quipped, "Telling al-Thani that he and al-Saud should go do a chest bump soon..."
The "Trump Lie Tracker" account on X blasted, "Trump praises the Emir of Qatar as 'tall' and 'handsome' instead of confronting him over Qatar’s atrocious human rights record and financial support for terrorist organizations around the world."
"Every time Trump opens his mouth, he reminds us what a national embarrassment he is," the organization Republicans Against Trump posted on X.
"It sounds like the Emperor is ready to *give away the farm* to be royalty," said sociologist and public employee Larry S. Williams.
"Cringe," posted skincare expert Lea Black.
Attorney Navroop Singh responded with several laughing emojis.
One individual questioned whether Trump knew the "back story" between the two countries. Early on in his first term, the Saudis, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar, alleging that they supported terrorism, BBC News reported in 2021. The countries imposed a blockade of Qatar on land, sea, and air, the New York Times reported at the time. They did not restore diplomatic ties until about two weeks before Trump left office in 2021.
"Trump to Emir of Qatar: You're so tall, handsome, and smart. And you get along so well with Saudi Arabia. Tucker Carlson: Qatar (Hamas) is one of our closest allies in the world. Saudi Arabia (2019): Qataris are terrorists, and we want nothing to do with them," recalled Dumisani Washington, founder and CEO of the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel (IBSI).
Another observed the emir's face when Trump called him "handsome."
See the clip below or at the link here.
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