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Journalism of Courage
Donald Trump has wrapped up his Middle East visit, ending his tour in the United Arab Emirates on Friday. But before boarding his flight back to the United States, he received a rather unique farewell gift – a single drop of Murban crude oil, the UAE’s top-tier petroleum.
The moment quickly went viral online, thanks to Trump’s classic quip. In a video shared by his communications advisor Margo Martin, Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE’s minister of industry and advanced technology and CEO of ADNOC, is seen handing Trump a sleek capsule containing the oil. Murban is known for being one of the highest-quality crude oils in the world, extracted from a massive oil field that dates back to 1958 and currently producing about two million barrels a day.
Trump, never one to miss a chance to entertain, looks into the camera and says with a grin, “This is one drop of oil.” Then, pausing for effect, he says, “The highest-quality oil there is on the planet, and they only gave me a drop of it. So, I’m not thrilled… But it’s better than no drop.” The dry humor and deadpan delivery turned the clip into an instant social media sensation.
The symbolic gesture came at the close of a four-day tour that focused heavily on energy cooperation. Sultan Al Jaber also highlighted a major joint initiative between the US and Gulf countries – a $440 billion investment in the energy sector planned through 2035. The announcement fits into Trump’s broader push to secure big-ticket business deals during his time in the region.
But this wasn’t the only viral moment from Trump’s trip. His arrival in the UAE sparked a buzz online as well, after a group of Emirati girls welcomed him with the traditional “Al-Ayyala” dance – known for its synchronized hair flips. Social media users couldn’t resist chiming in, with one X user joking, “Yeh kya darawlvana welcome hai” (What a scary welcome).
