Donald Trump promotes his Trump Steaks in New York in 2007. The US President is said to like them well done and served with ketchup. Photo: WireImage
Donald Trump promotes his Trump Steaks in New York in 2007. The US President is said to like them well done and served with ketchup. Photo: WireImage
Donald Trump promotes his Trump Steaks in New York in 2007. The US President is said to like them well done and served with ketchup. Photo: WireImage
Donald Trump promotes his Trump Steaks in New York in 2007. The US President is said to like them well done and served with ketchup. Photo: WireImage

Steak, ketchup and Arabic coffee: What Donald Trump eats on trips abroad


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

US President Donald Trump is preparing for the first official visit abroad of his second term, during which he will visit the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Travelling to another country can wreak havoc on an eating schedule, so how does Mr Trump handle meals on foreign visits?

Mr Trump has spoken several times of his love of American fast food. Expounding on the wonders of McDonald's in a 2016 CNN interview, he called the restaurant's offerings “great stuff”.

The President is also a big fan of steak and was the face of his own meat brand for several years through “Trump Steaks”. He reportedly enjoys his steaks well done and prefers to eat them with ketchup. For dessert, Mr Trump has been known to enjoy pie, chocolate cake and ice cream.

Donald Trump dines on a taco bowl in celebration of Cinco de Mayo in 2016. Photo: @realDonaldTrump / X
Donald Trump dines on a taco bowl in celebration of Cinco de Mayo in 2016. Photo: @realDonaldTrump / X

To wash it all down, the President is apparently a big fan of Diet Coke. According to the Wall Street Journal, during his first term, he used a call button on his desk in the Oval Office that would alert an aide to bring him a can. The button was reportedly reinstalled when he returned to office this year.

But what happens when he travels abroad?

In 2017, during his first term, his first official visit overseas was to Saudi Arabia.

On arrival, he was treated to traditional Arabic coffee alongside King Salman, who taught him how to shake his cup − the traditional technique of asking a server to stop pouring. Mr Trump, however, asked for a top-up after finishing his first cup.

US President Donald Trump is welcomed by King Salman at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May 2017. Saudi Press Agency / EPA
US President Donald Trump is welcomed by King Salman at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May 2017. Saudi Press Agency / EPA

Mr Trump's Saudi hosts later pulled out all the culinary stops, offering the President's favourite steak with a side of ketchup alongside the more traditional chicken kabsa and gorsan − Saudi stew. Caviar, foie gras, risotto and date ice cream were also on the menu.

The US President headed to Israel after Saudi Arabia, where he met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At a dinner at the Prime Minister's residence, Mr Trump was treated to an American-themed spread, with celebrity Israeli chef Moshe Segev serving up sliders with rice and kale chips, as well as ketchup made from beets and aioli mustard.

Salmon, red curry and a sprout salad were also served during the meal, with an array of desserts arriving on a plate featuring the silhouettes of Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu.

Similar to food in the US, cuisine in the Middle East is based on one thing Mr Trump loves − meat. But what happens when no meat is on the menu?

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump listen to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their visit to Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad. AFP / Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump listen to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their visit to Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad. AFP / Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)

During his trip to India in 2020, Mr Trump dined with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is a vegetarian, several times. A White House aide famously disclosed to CNN that they had never seen the President eat a vegetable.

According to the Hindustan Times, Mr Trump turned down sampling the vegetarian menu on his first day in India, and even declined apple pie and ice cream for dessert. Meat was on the menu at a later state dinner, but it's unclear what − if anything − Mr Trump sampled.

As he begins what is sure to be a series of visits overseas at the start of his second term, it remains to be seen whether Mr Trump will stick with old favourites or branch out to new experiences at the dinner table.

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Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe

For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.

Golden Dallah

For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.

Al Mrzab Restaurant

For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.

Al Derwaza

For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup. 

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RESULT

Aston Villa 1
Samatta (41')
Manchester City 2
Aguero (20')
Rodri (30')

Results

6.30pm: Madjani Stakes Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m, Winner: RB Frynchh Dude, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Mnasek, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.

7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Grand Dubai, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m, Winner: Meqdam, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.

8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Thegreatcollection, Pat Cosgrave, Doug Watson.

9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Sanad Libya, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Madkhal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

RESULT

Fifth ODI, at Headingley

England 351/9
Pakistan 297
England win by 54 runs (win series 4-0)

THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
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  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
Updated: May 12, 2025, 6:27 AM`