Trump meets Qatar emir, PM during stop en route to Asia

US President Donald Trump met Saturday with the emir and prime minister of Qatar -- a key ally in preserving the fragile Gaza peace deal -- during a refueling stop on his way to Asia, officials said.

The Qatari leaders boarded Air Force One when it landed at Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the regional headquarters for the US military and thousands of American troops.

Trump said the duo had played a crucial role in the Middle East peace process, adding that Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had been his "friend to the world."