Trump’s Strategic Qatar Stop Exposes the Pitfalls of U.S. Middle East Policy

President Donald Trump’s recent brief stopover in Qatar en route to Malaysia offers more than a mere refueling opportunity—it reveals deeper challenges in America’s approach to the Middle East, a region where strategic clarity and unwavering American leadership are paramount. Touching down at Al Udeid Air Base, Trump met aboard Air Force One with Qatar’s emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al Thani. While cordial words were exchanged—Trump praising the emir as "one of the great leaders of the world" and thanking both for their role in Middle East peace efforts—the brevity of this...