Trump tells reporters they were ‘so well behaved’ aboard Air Force One

ABU NAKHLAH, QATAR: President Donald Trump, often known for his clashes with the media, surprised reporters aboard Air Force One by praising their conduct during his trip to Asia on Saturday, October 25. 

His journey, seen as a reaffirmation of American engagement in the region, began with a refueling stop in the Middle East, where Trump briefly met the press corps accompanying him.

Donald Trump commends press for respectful conduct

Aboard Air Force One on Saturday, President Donald Trump met the media after a photo session with the Emir of Qatar and the Qatari Prime Minister. Despite his usual criticism of the press, he offered a rare compliment to the journalists traveling with him.

Returning to the press cabin, Trump said with a grin, “I only come back to tell you that you were so well behaved. I couldn’t believe it. You were so respectful and well behaved. I appreciate it, okay?".

Donald Trump meets Qatar’s Emir and Prime Minister 

The Qatar stop was more than a routine refueling break—it showcased America’s ties with regional allies under Trump’s leadership. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani boarded Air Force One to greet the US President, underlining the significance of the meeting. 

Trump spoke highly of the Qatari leader, telling reporters, “He’s a great guy, actually. He’s a great leader. They helped us a lot, and it was really nice that he came. We were just refueling, and he came and said hello. It was very, very nice. Great, great man actually. Great gentleman too.”

Before leaving, he once again thanked the media for their professionalism: “Thank you very much, everybody. By the way — very, very respectful. I appreciate it.”

ASEAN summit opens with high-stakes agenda

The main focus of Trump’s multi-nation tour is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, where he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The discussions will center on trade realignment and security cooperation.

When asked if he planned to pressure Xi to halt China’s purchase of Russian oil amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Trump replied, “Maybe. I may be discussing it, but you know, China’s — I don’t know. You probably saw today, China’s cutting back very substantially on the purchase of Russia oil, and India’s cutting back completely. And we’ve done sanctions.”