Trump And The Sultan: An Unlikely Friendship

In 2019, Donald Trump was criticised for his silence on Brunei's anti-LGBTQ laws, which allow LGBTQ people to be stoned to death. This was surprising given his claims to support the LGBTQ community. One possible explanation for his silence is his past dealings with the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah. In 1988, the Sultan sold the superyacht 'Nabila' to Trump for $29 million, who then sold it on for a significant profit. The yacht was originally built for Saudi billionaire Adnan Khashoggi and was one of the largest yachts in the world at the time.

The Sultan of Brunei's business dealings with Donald Trump

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, has been ranked among the wealthiest individuals in the world, with a net worth of $30 billion as of 2023. He is also one of the few remaining absolute monarchs in the world. The Sultan has stakes in dozens of businesses and has invested in numerous industries, including luxury hotels and yachts.

One notable business dealing between the Sultan of Brunei and former US President Donald Trump involves the sale of a yacht. In 1988, the Sultan of Brunei sold a superyacht named "Nabila" to Donald Trump for $29 million. Trump then renamed the yacht "Trump Princess" and attempted to sell it for $115 million in 1990, although he was ultimately unsuccessful.

In addition to their business dealings, both the Sultan of Brunei and Donald Trump have faced criticism for their stances on LGBTQ+ rights. The Sultan of Brunei enacted strict anti-LGBTQ+ laws, prompting calls for boycotts of businesses associated with him. Similarly, Donald Trump's silence on Brunei's anti-LGBTQ+ laws and his refusal to condemn or comment on them raised questions about a potential connection to his own history with the Beverly Hills Hotel, which is owned by the Sultan of Brunei.

The Sultan's anti-LGBTQ+ stance and Trump's silence

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, has been widely criticised for his anti-LGBTQ+ stance, particularly his implementation of strict Islamic laws that make anal sex and adultery punishable by stoning to death. These laws have been described as "draconian" and "medieval", with international celebrities such as George Clooney, Elton John, and Ellen DeGeneres leading calls for boycotts of luxury hotels owned by the Sultan's company, the Dorchester Collection.

Under the new laws, individuals accused of certain acts will be convicted if they confess or if there were witnesses present. The law mostly applies to Muslims, including children who have reached puberty, though some aspects will apply to non-Muslims. The punishment for lesbian sex, for example, carries a penalty of 40 strokes of the cane and/or a maximum of 10 years in jail.

The Sultan's anti-LGBTQ+ stance has been met with international condemnation, including from the United Nations, which urged Brunei to review its laws, and Amnesty International, which described the new policy as "vicious". Despite this, then-US President Donald Trump remained silent on the issue, refusing to condemn or comment on Brunei's anti-LGBTQ+ laws. This was particularly notable given Trump's claims to support the LGBTQ+ community and his purported global campaign to end the criminalisation of homosexuality.

Trump's silence was especially conspicuous considering his own connections to the Beverly Hills Hotel, owned by the Sultan, where he allegedly met with adult film star Stormy Daniels and is accused of sexually assaulting former Apprentice contestant Summer Zervos. Trump's history with the hotel, where he frequently booked a private bungalow, may have influenced his decision to stay quiet on the issue.

In response to the international backlash, the Sultan announced that he would extend a moratorium on capital punishment for homosexuality and ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture. However, as the Sultan is an absolute monarch with full executive power, there are concerns that the moratorium could be lifted at any time, allowing for the reinstatement of capital punishment.

The Sultan's wealth and spending

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is one of the world's wealthiest individuals, with a net worth of around $28-30 billion. He is known for his extravagant spending and luxurious lifestyle, which includes a vast car collection, a private jet, and the world's largest palace.

The Sultan's Wealth

Hassanal Bolkiah has been the Sultan of Brunei since 1967 and is one of the few remaining absolute monarchs in the world. He is the eldest son of the previous sultan, Omar Ali Saifuddien III, and became the 29th sultan to ascend to the Bruneian throne when his father abdicated in 1967. As of 2023, he is the world's longest-reigning current monarch and the longest-serving current head of state, having celebrated his Golden Jubilee in 2017.

The Sultan's wealth is estimated to be around $28-30 billion, making him one of the richest people in the world. The main source of his wealth is the country's oil reserves and natural gas.

The Sultan's Spending

Hassanal Bolkiah is known for his extravagant spending and luxurious lifestyle. Here are some examples of his notable expenditures:

• Cars: The Sultan is an avid car collector and is said to own around 7,000 cars, including 600 Rolls-Royces, 450 Ferraris, 380 Bentleys, a Lamborghini Urraco, a Ferrari 456 GT Venice, and a Porsche 959. His car collection is estimated to be worth over $5 billion.
• Private Jet: The Sultan owns a Boeing 747 for his personal use, which is said to have cost him around $400 million. He added custom features such as a gold washbasin, which cost an additional $120 million.
• Palace: The Istana Nurul Iman Palace, built in 1984 to commemorate Brunei's independence, is the largest palace in the world, covering 2 million square feet. It features a dome embellished with 22-carat gold, five swimming pools, 257 bathrooms, over 1700 rooms, and parking space for 110 cars. The palace is estimated to be worth over $330 million.
• Other Expenses: The Sultan is known to fly his barber in from London's Dorchester Hotel, and he reportedly spends $20,0000 on a single haircut. He also has a private zoo, which houses around 30 Bengal tigers, as well as various exotic birds.

The Sultan's extravagant spending and luxurious lifestyle have often been the subject of media attention and have sparked both fascination and criticism worldwide.

The Sultan's stance on Christmas celebrations

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, has been described as a friend of former US President Donald Trump. In 1988, the Sultan sold the super-yacht 'Nabila' to Trump for $29 million. The yacht was originally built for Saudi billionaire Adnan Khashoggi and was one of the largest yachts in the world at the time. Trump renamed it the 'Trump Princess' and attempted to sell it for $115 million in 1990, but it is unclear if he ever found a buyer.

In 2019, Trump faced criticism for his silence on Brunei's anti-LGBTQ+ laws, which allow for the stoning to death of people who have sex with someone of the same gender, as well as women who have sex outside of marriage. Despite Trump's claims to support the LGBTQ+ community, he refused to condemn or comment on Brunei's laws.

Now, as per the user's request, here is some information on the Sultan's stance on Christmas celebrations:

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, has been described as having a complex stance on Christmas celebrations. On the one hand, he has been known to celebrate Christmas himself and even has a collection of Santa Claus outfits. On the other hand, in 2015, he banned public Christmas celebrations, including wearing clothes or hats that resemble Santa Claus. This ban only applied to local Muslims, and Christians were still allowed to celebrate Christmas.

The Sultan's ban on public Christmas celebrations was met with mixed reactions. Some saw it as a way to educate society and reiterate Brunei's Islamic identity. Others, like John Wong, a member of a local church, expressed concern, stating that they were "officially banned from displaying Christmas decorations in public." However, Wong also acknowledged that many Muslims in Brunei still celebrate Christmas privately as a commercial festival.

Overall, the Sultan's stance on Christmas celebrations appears to be influenced by his desire to uphold Islamic teachings and traditions in Brunei, while also allowing for some level of private celebration by Christians.

The Sultan's stance on Sharia Law

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei has been criticised for his stance on Sharia Law, which includes punishments such as stoning, maiming, and other corporal punishments for crimes such as adultery, gay sex, and theft. These laws sparked international outrage and protests, with celebrities such as George Clooney, Elton John, and Ellen DeGeneres calling for boycotts of companies owned by the Bruneian royal family. In response to the backlash, the Sultan initially defended the laws, stating that they were necessary in light of Islam and dismissing criticisms of Sharia Law as "never-ending theories". However, he later announced that the death penalty for homosexuality would not be enforced and that Brunei would ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture.

The implementation of Sharia Law in Brunei is closely tied to the country's Islamic identity, with Islam being the official religion and 83% of the population being Muslim. The Sultan has emphasised the importance of Islamic teachings and has reiterated Brunei's Islamic identity in his speeches. While the laws have sparked outrage internationally, many regular Bruneians do not understand the outcry as they believe that no one will ever be punished under these laws. According to a policeman from Temburung, it is very difficult to apply Sharia Law to any case as the acts must usually be witnessed by five males of flawless reputation, otherwise, common law applies.

Despite the controversy surrounding the Sultan's stance on Sharia Law, it is important to note that Brunei has recognised seven indigenous tribes in its constitution, and there is no reported discrimination based on religion or ethnicity. Natasha Budin, a member of the Iban tribe, stated that they love the Sultan because there is no discrimination against her tribe, even though they have mostly converted to Islam or Christianity.

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