Troops chanted “U.S.A.” at the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East as President Donald Trump took the podium before them on Thursday.
The president touted the changes his administration has already made to the U.S. military, such as reinstating service members expelled under the Biden administration for not taking the COVID-19 vaccine and ending “training sessions on political correctness.”
“We don’t care if you’re politically correct,” Trump told the troops at Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar.
Trump celebrated the increase in men and women joining the armed forces, telling troops, “Six months ago we couldn’t get people to join the military. Nobody wanted your job, now everybody wants your job.”
In April, Military.com reported that the Army had reached 85% of its target recruiting numbers for fiscal 2025. By the same time last year, the Army had only reached 63% of its recruiting goal.
Trump attributed the increase in men and women joining the military to “a whole new spirit” in America.
“Under the Trump administration, America is back and America’s military is back bigger, better, and stronger than ever before,” the president said.
Trump delivered the address to the U.S. troops in Qatar just before leaving for the United Arab Emirates, the final stop on the president’s four-day trip to the Middle East.
The president’s trip has been marked by major economic deals according to the White House, from “an agreement with Qatar to generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion,” to a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the U.S.
The president also met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after announcing the lifting of U.S. sanctions on the Middle Eastern nation. Trump encouraged Syria to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel.
Trump’s actions demonstrate a willingness to make economic deals with Middle Eastern nations in the interest of stability in the region.
“As president, my priority is to end conflicts, not start them,” Trump said during his speech to U.S. troops. “But I will never hesitate to wield American power if it’s necessary to defend the United States of America or our partners.”
“We have overwhelming strength and devastating force,” Trump continued during the 47-minute speech.
Upon arriving in Abu Dhabi Thursday, Trump toured the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and is slated to participate in bilateral meetings at the UAE presidential palace later in the day.
