President Donald Trump arrives in Riyadh on board Air Force One. AP
President Donald Trump arrives in Riyadh on board Air Force One. AP
President Donald Trump arrives in Riyadh on board Air Force One. AP
President Donald Trump arrives in Riyadh on board Air Force One. AP

From Brooklyn to Brioni: Where does Donald Trump get his suits?


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Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip

Donald Trump may not always be the most predictable politician, but one thing has remained constant throughout his life in the public eye – his devotion to a blue suit.

He’s in good company. A mid-shade of blue is a favourite among world leaders and executives alike, known for conveying confidence, reliability and authority. Trump typically favours royal or navy hues, establishing a long-time uniform of a two-button, single-breasted jacket paired with a crisp white shirt and a red tie – famously worn far longer than the conventional waist-length. The tie is so synonymous with him that he now sells a $125 version via the Trump Store.

Occasionally, he strays from this formula. He’s been spotted in mid-blue and striped lilac ties. Notably, when he arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for his first Gulf visit since retaking office, he stepped off Air Force One wearing a purple tie that echoed the ceremonial purple carpet laid out in his honour – a clear nod to the Asir region’s distinctive florals.

Donald Trump has had a signature look for decades, which includes a red tie worn extra long. Reuters
Donald Trump has had a signature look for decades, which includes a red tie worn extra long. Reuters

For tailoring, Trump favours two sources. A native New Yorker, he has long sought out Martin Greenfield Clothiers in Brooklyn, which is renowned for its hand-stitched menswear and a client list that includes six American presidents, as well as Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Kobe Bryant and even Madonna for her Madame X tour.

His other go-to is Brioni, the Italian sartorial institution known for its low-key prestige and exceptional craftsmanship. Each suit follows a 220-step process and includes more than 7,000 concealed hand stitches. Brioni is no stranger to high-flying clients either, having dressed two James Bonds: Pierce Brosnan for films from GoldenEye in 1995 to Die Another Day in 2002, as well as Daniel Craig in Casino Royale.

Trump has long been vocal in his admiration. In his 2004 book Think Like a Billionaire, he declared: “I’ve worn some great shirts over the years, but I now favour Brioni (the same brand as my favourite suits). Brioni shirts are fitted so they feel and look great.” He added that Brioni “graciously” supplied his wardrobe for The Apprentice.

On arrival in Saudi Arabia, Donald Trump wore a purple-hued tie, a nod to the ceremonial colours of the kingdom. AFP
On arrival in Saudi Arabia, Donald Trump wore a purple-hued tie, a nod to the ceremonial colours of the kingdom. AFP

Yet, Trump’s preference for oversized, near mid-thigh jackets runs counter to Brioni’s house aesthetic. Given that a bespoke Brioni suit costs upwards of $7,000, one might expect immaculate fit and structure. In 2016, Brioni addressed this dissonance, telling fashion industry publication WWD that while it makes custom suits for Trump, the “silhouette and fabrics follow his personal requirements". In other words, Brioni defers to Trump’s taste – not the other way around.

His appearance in Saudi Arabia marked a noticeable shift. His royal blue suit featured a far more flattering cut. The silhouette was sharper, cleaner and markedly more presidential. Whether this signals a permanent evolution or a one-off sartorial high point remains to be seen.

Brioni may be built on discretion and craftsmanship, but it’s not without an edge. In 2016, it made headlines when newly appointed creative director Justin O’Shea signed Metallica – who will perform in Abu Dhabi in December during Formula One weekend – as the face of the brand. “We are beyond thrilled to have been invited to be the face of Italian menswear powerhouse Brioni,” the band announced. The brand’s roll call of clients includes Rami Malek, Chris Hemsworth, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Costner, Oscar Isaac, John Krasinski and Jude Law.

One of Donald Trump's bespoke suits from his first term as president was sold on an auction website, highlighting personal touches. Photo: Goldin Auctions
One of Donald Trump's bespoke suits from his first term as president was sold on an auction website, highlighting personal touches. Photo: Goldin Auctions

Still, for all its celebrity cachet, the Trump connection remains a double-edged sword. To dress one of the most recognisable figures in global politics is, undoubtedly, a publicity boon. But when that figure occasionally goes viral for an ill-fitting suit or a rumpled appearance, the alignment becomes more complicated.

Trump appears entirely unfazed. Outside of the sharper Saudi look, his wardrobe still leans baggy and boxy. In March 2024, memorabilia site Goldin sold one of his old Brioni suits – worn during his 2016–2020 term – for $9,394. The complete set included a shirt, two ties and a Brooks Brothers suit bag. Inside the jacket, a woven label read “Brioni for Donald J Trump".

Perhaps the clearest indicator of Trump’s fashion philosophy lies in that label – not about where the suit comes from, but how it wears on his terms.

What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.

It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.

But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties. 

 

Cricket World Cup League 2

UAE squad

Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind

Fixtures

Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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Mina Cup winners

Under 12 – Minerva Academy

Under 14 – Unam Pumas

Under 16 – Fursan Hispania

Under 18 – Madenat

How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
  • The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
  • The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
  • The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
  • The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
  • The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest

Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.

Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.

Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.

Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.

Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.

Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia

PROFILE OF STARZPLAY

Date started: 2014

Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand

Number of employees: 125

Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

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TO A LAND UNKNOWN

Director: Mahdi Fleifel

Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa

Rating: 4.5/5

The biog

Age: 23

Occupation: Founder of the Studio, formerly an analyst at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Education: Bachelor of science in industrial engineering

Favourite hobby: playing the piano

Favourite quote: "There is a key to every door and a dawn to every dark night"

Family: Married and with a daughter

The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Financial considerations before buying a property

Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says. 

Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.

Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier. 

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Traits of Chinese zodiac animals

Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent   

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

RESULTS

4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Yulong Warrior, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer)

4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jordan Sport, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: Jungle Cat, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Kimbear, Patrick Dobbs, Doug Watson

6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Blair House, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: North America, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner: Hawkbill, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

Updated: May 14, 2025, 8:58 AM`