Trump's Qatar trip is off to a flying start as Air Force One gets another fighter jet escort

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — President Donald Trump's trip to Qatar is off to a flying start.

Like Saudi Arabia a day earlier, Qatar didn't bother waiting for Trump to land before setting out to impress him with a fighter jet escort.

As Trump flew in to Riyadh on Tuesday and then in to Doha on Wednesday as part of his Middle East trip, he received ceremonial escorts from each country's F-15 fighter jets, exceptionally rare sights.

A White House official, Margo Martin, posted videos of the escorts online.

“Saudi F-15’s providing honorary escort for Air Force One!” she wrote on Tuesday. The Royal Saudi Air Force has the world’s largest fleet of American-made F-15s after the U.S. Air Force.

Then on Wednesday, Martin posted: “what a view flying into Qatar!!!” She even captured one of the Qatari aviators, sitting in the F-15's backseat, returning the favor by taking a picture of Air Force One.

The fighter jets aren't the only planes Qatar has used to impress Trump, offering to gift him a luxury Boeing 747-8 that the U.S. could use as Air Force One while new versions of the plane are under construction by Boeing.

Trump has defended the idea as a fiscally smart move for the United States. But his critics have questioned what would amount to a president accepting an astonishingly valuable gift from a foreign government, calling it “naked corruption” and "a grave national security threat.”

The Republican president is on a three-nation Middle East trip and visits the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

Qatar Emiri Air Force F-15s provide an honorary escort for Air Force One, carrying President Donald Trump, as it arrives in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Qatar Emiri Air Force F-15s provide an honorary escort for Air Force One, carrying President Donald Trump, as it arrives in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provide an honorary escort for Air Force One, with President Donald Trump aboard, as it arrives in Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provide an honorary escort for Air Force One, with President Donald Trump aboard, as it arrives in Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Qatar Emiri Air Force F-15s provide an honorary escort for Air Force One, carrying President Donald Trump, as it arrives in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Raphinha scored twice as Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2 on Sunday in the final of the Spanish Super Cup played in Saudi Arabia.

Raphinha's 73rd-minute winner came in a fortuitous manner after he slipped while shooting and the shot deflected off Madrid defender Raúl Asencio to fool goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

The clasico final featured a hectic end to the first half when three stoppage-time goals were scored before the break, two by Real Madrid and one by Barcelona. Barcelona beat Madrid 5-2 in last year's final, when Raphinha also scored twice.

“We gave all we had,” Raphinha said. “I was emotional at the end of the match, we needed a win like this."

It was the 16th Super Cup title for Barcelona, more than any other club. Madrid is second with 13 titles.

Kylian Mbappé, who had missed the semifinals of the mini-Super Cup tournament because of a knee issue, entered the match in the 76th but couldn't do enough to help Madrid equalize. The France forward missed Madrid’s win over Atletico Madrid in the semifinals on Thursday but then traveled from Spain to Saudi Arabia to be available for the final of the mini-tournament.

Robert Lewandowski also scored for Barcelona. Madrid’s goals were scored by Vinícius Júnior and Gonzalo García.

The trophy was lifted by Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, who had been out since November because of private reasons. Spanish media reports said he was on a mental health break.

The Catalan club opened the scoring in Jeddah on Sunday with Raphinha in a breakaway in the 36th. Madrid equalized with a superb goal from Vinícius two minutes into first-half added time, with the Brazil forward capping a nice run by splitting a couple of defenders before scoring from inside the area.

Vinícius hadn’t scored in 16 matches with Madrid, since October.

Lewandowski put Barcelona back ahead two minutes after Vinícius’ goal, and García evened the game again three minutes later at the end of the first half.

Madrid had two golden chances to equalize again in added time but couldn't capitalize on them.

“We have to turn the page as soon as possible,” Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said. "It’s just one game, one competition, and it’s the least important one we have. We have to look ahead, try to get everyone back together, recover our morale, and move on.”

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong was sent off in second-half stoppage time.

Barcelona reached the Super Cup final by routing Athletic Bilbao 5-0, while Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid 2-1.

Barcelona is the first league champion in eight seasons to win the Super Cup, and the first team to retain the trophy since Pep Guardiola’s team won three in a row in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

The president of the Spanish soccer federation, Rafael Louzán, said Sunday that the final of next year’s edition will be played either in Qatar or Kuwait because Saudi Arabia will be hosting the Asian Cup.

The final will return to Saudi Arabia in 2028 and will be played there until at least through 2030.

The teams not involved in the Spanish Super Cup played a regular round of La Liga matches as the domestic competition reached its midway point.

In Sunday's games, fifth-place Espanyol drew 1-1 at second-to-last Levante, while midtable Rayo Vallecano defeated Mallorca 2-1 at home.

Barcelona leads the league, sitting four points ahead of Madrid after 19 rounds.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, duels for the ball with Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe during the Spanish Super Cup final soccer match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Barcelona players celebrate after winning the Spanish Super Cup final soccer match against Real Madrid at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Real Madrid's Gonzalo Garcia scores against FC Barcelona during the Spanish Super Cup final soccer match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Real Madrid's Gonzalo Garcia celebrates after scoring against FC Barcelona during the Spanish Super Cup final soccer match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Barcelona's Raphinha celebrates after scoring his second goal during the Spanish Super Cup final soccer match against Real Madrid at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Barcelona's Raphinha, left, celebrates with teammate Lamine Yamal after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish Super Cup final soccer match against Real Madrid at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Barcelona's Raphinha celebrates after scoring his second goal during the Spanish Super Cup final soccer match against Real Madrid at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)