President Trump's visit to Qatar was a huge day for America's biggest exporter. Qatar Airways signed a Boeing deal that Trump said was worth $200 billion and would involve 160 aircraft, reports Reuters. Trump said it was the "largest order of jets" in the company's history, the BBC reports. According to a White House fact sheet, the state carrier's deal for 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft "is Boeing's largest-ever widebody order and largest-ever 787 order." The White House fact sheet has different numbers than the ones Trump cited: It says the deal is for up to 210 aircraft and is worth $96 billion.
The White House said Trump "signed an agreement with Qatar to generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion" along with economic deals, including the Boeing deal, "totaling more than $243.5 billion." Trump and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani were in the room when Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg and Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer signed the deal. "So that's a record, Kelly, then congratulations to Boeing," Trump said. CNN notes that Boeing definitely needs the business: Orders fell 60% to 569 last year and the company has been hit by strikes, safety concerns, and the trade war.
Trump and the emir also signed defense agreements, including a statement of intent on military cooperation, the Guardian reports. Trump said they discussed issues including the war in Ukraine. He said Qatar had been a "big help" on Iran. Politico reports that Qatar's controversial proposed gift of another Boeing aircraft to serve as Air Force One was not mentioned in remarks at the signing ceremony.
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