Trump addresses US troops in Qatar, touts pay raise

president Donald Trump criticized President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and indicated his desire to obtain salaries in a speech to US service members on Thursday.

Trump made comments during a speech by the Forces at the Air Force Base during his flight to the Middle East.

“My budget for 2026 includes in all fields – you may not want to search for the country’s interest, and you do not have to take it – an increase in wages for each of you. A significant increase in wages,” Trump said.

“You are undoubtedly the greatest combat power in world history. This is the case.

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He added: “As the leader of the highest, I am here to say that the American army will be close, better, stronger and stronger than ever.”

Trump continued to criticize Biden, pointing to the death of 13 American soldiers during the evacuation of Kabul, Afghanistan.

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Trump’s speech came less than a day after he signed a series of agreements with Prince Tarim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, Qatar.

President Donald Trump holds a pen by Prince Tarim bin Hamad Al Thani during the exchange of documents during a signing ceremony in the Emiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Alex Brandon/AP)

The agreements included a purchase agreement by Qatar for Boeing aircraft, as well as the letters of intention and “joint cooperation” between Qatar and the United States, the prince also signed an intentional agreement to purchase the MQ-9 drone.

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Al Thani said that he had a “wonderful” conversation with Trump before the signing ceremony on Wednesday, adding that the agreements raised the relationship of the United States to an “other level.”

A model of a MQ-9 Reaper Air Corn car is displayed during the Farnborough International Airshow show. (John Kibel/Getti Emaiz)

American relations with Doha have come a long way since 2017, when Trump accused Qatar of harboring terrorism: “Unfortunately, the nation of Qatar was historically owned by terrorism at a very high level.”

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From there, Qatar became a major non -NATO ally of the United States in 2022 under the leadership of Biden and is home to the Al -Wadid Air Force, one of the largest Middle East bases in the United States and a major center for US Central Command operations.

Fox News Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.