Trump heads to Middle East eyeing deals amid diplomatic offensive
'Deals'
But the focus during the tour of the Gulf will likely be locking down business agreements.
"White House sources have indicated that the president will focus on 'deals'," wrote Daniel B. Shapiro, a distinguished fellow with the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative.
Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi are expected to roll out the red carpet with a lavish royal welcome for the 78-year-old billionaire.
"The president looks forward to embarking on his historic return to the Middle East" to promote a vision where "extremism is defeated in place of commerce and cultural exchanges", Trump's spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said ahead of the trip.
The Gulf states have positioned themselves as key diplomatic partners during Trump's second term.
Doha remains a major broker for negotiations between Hamas and Israel, while Saudi Arabia has facilitated talks on the war in Ukraine.
Talk of returning to the kingdom has been circulating for months, with Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman vowing to pour $600 billion into US trade and investments.
"I'll be asking the crown prince, who's a fantastic guy, to round it out to around one trillion. I think they'll do that because we've been very good to them," Trump said in response to the offer.
According to a Saudi official close to the defence ministry, Riyadh will push for securing the latest US F-35 fighter jets along with state-of-the-art air defence systems worth billions of dollars.
"We will condition that the deliveries take place during Trump's term," the source told AFP.
Temporary 'gift'
On the ground in Saudi Arabia, residents expressed mixed feelings about what the trip would mean. "I expect that this visit will result in political decisions that will matter to the whole region," Khalifa Oneizi, a 47-year-old Riyadh resident, told AFP.
Others were less confident.
"I am not optimistic about this visit or its results," said Hamad Shahrani, a 62-year-old Saudi national.
Efforts to push Saudi Arabia to recognise Israel are not likely to feature high on the agenda this trip, with Riyadh insisting a Palestinian state must be established before a deal can be brokered.
Iran, meanwhile, is likely to feature prominently during the visit, following a fourth round of talks in Oman over the weekend.
Controversy is also swirling over the president's plans to accept a luxury Boeing jet from the Qatari royal family for use as Air Force One.
Late Sunday, Trump went on the offensive amid a wave of criticism, saying the plane was a temporary "gift." He later called the deal "a very public and transparent transaction", and on Monday said before leaving Washington for his trip: "I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Protesters rally against ICE for second day in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES -Federal agents in Los Angeles on Saturday faced off against demonstrators protesting immigration raids following Friday's protests that senior White House aide Stephen Miller condemned as an "insurrection" against the United States. The security agents on Saturday engaged in a tense confrontation with protesters in the Paramount area in southeast Los Angeles, where one demonstrator was seen waving a Mexican flag and some covered their mouths with respiratory masks. A live video feed showed dozens of green-uniformed security personnel with gas masks lined up on a road strewn with overturned shopping carts as small canisters exploded into gas clouds. A first round of protests kicked off on Friday night after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted enforcement operations in the city and arrested at least 44 people on alleged immigration violations. The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that "1,000 rioters surrounded a federal law enforcement building and assaulted ICE law enforcement officers, slashed tires, defaced buildings, and taxpayer funded property." Reuters was unable to verify DHS's accounts. Miller, an immigration hardliner and the White House deputy chief of staff, wrote on X that Friday's demonstrations were "an insurrection against the laws and sovereignty of the United States." The protests pit Democratic-run Los Angeles, where census data suggests a significant portion of the population is Hispanic and foreign-born, against Trump's Republican White House, which has made cracking down on immigration a hallmark of his second term. Trump has pledged to deport record numbers of people in the country illegally and lock down the U.S.-Mexico border, with the White House setting a goal for ICE to arrest at least 3,000 migrants per day. But the sweeping immigration crackdown has also included people legally residing in the country, including some with permanent residence, and has led to legal challenges. In a statement on Saturday about the protests in Paramount, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office said: "It appeared that federal law enforcement officers were in the area, and that members of the public were gathering to protest." ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Los Angeles Police Department did not respond to a request for information about the protests or potential immigration sweeps on Saturday. POLITICAL DIVISIONS OVER FRIDAY'S SWEEP Television news footage earlier on Friday showed unmarked vehicles resembling military transport and vans loaded with uniformed federal agents streaming through Los Angeles streets as part of the immigration enforcement operation. The Democratic mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, in a statement condemned the immigration raids. "I am deeply angered by what has taken place," Bass said. "These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city. We will not stand for this." The LD did not take part in the immigration enforcement. It was deployed to quell civil unrest after crowds protesting the deportation raids spray-painted anti-ICE slogans on the walls of a federal court building and gathered outside a nearby jail where some of the detainees were reportedly being held. In a statement, DHS criticized Democratic politicians including Mayor Bass, saying their anti-ICE rhetoric was contributing to violence against immigration agents. "From comparisons to the modern-day Nazi gestapo to glorifying rioters, the violent rhetoric of these sanctuary politicians is beyond the pale. This violence against ICE must end," said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. FBI deputy director Dan Bongino posted on X that they were reviewing evidence from the protests. "We are working with the U.S. Attorney's Office to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice," Bongino said.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
China approves some exports of rare earths ahead of US talks
Beijing has approved some rare earth export applications, potentially easing tensions before US-China trade talks. The commerce ministry confirmed the approvals, noting growing demand in robotics and electric vehicles, and will expedite approvals for qualified exporters to Europe. This follows a call between Presidents Trump and Xi, where Trump expressed optimism about resolving trade issues and advancing towards a deal. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Beijing says it granted approval to some applications for the export of rare earths, a move that could ease tensions before trade negotiations between the US and China next Chinese commerce ministry confirmed the approval of the applications without specifying which countries or industries were covered, even as it noted growing demand for the minerals in robotics and electric vehicles. The ministry will continue to review and approve compliant export applications, according to a statement on confirmation comes days after the US and Chinese presidents spoke, following which Donald Trump said that there "should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products." Delegations from Beijing and Washington are scheduled to meet in the UK to conduct trade negotiations on granted temporary export licenses to rare-earth suppliers of the top three US automakers, Reuters reported on Friday. The commerce ministry also said earlier Saturday it will speed up approvals for qualified rare earth exporters to comment came one day after a rare call with Xi aimed at resolving trade tensions that have been brewing over the topic for that time, Trump said there had been "a very positive conclusion" to the talks, adding that "there should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products.""We're very far advanced on the China deal," Trump told reporters on countries struck an agreement on May 12 in Geneva, Switzerland, to roll back for 90 days most of the triple-digit, tit-for-tat tariffs they had placed on each other since Trump's January inauguration. Financial markets that had worried about trade disruptions rallied on the news.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
'Like a rugby player': Elon Musk hit Scott Bessent's ribcage after being called a 'fraud', Trump called it 'too much'
Elon Musk and Scott Bessent's fight was not just a push or shove, Musk punched Bessent like a rugby player. A more salacious account of the beginning of the Elon Musk - Donald Trump feud has now surfaced, courtesy MAGA activist Steve Bannon, who claimed that the physical fight between Elon Musk and Scott Bessent was not just a push or shove. But Elon Musk hit Bessent's ribcage like a rugby player and Bessent too hit Musk. Multiple people had to step in to break up the fight as they reached the then NSA Mike Waltz's office. Bannon earlier narrated the physical fight but now presented more details of it after Trump, Musk's ultimate showdown. Bannon said when Trump heard about it he said it was "too much". But this episode had no contribution to Elon Musk's recent black eye as this took place weeks ago when Waltz was the National Security Adviser but the episode can be earmarked as the beginning of the end. Mid-April, Musk and Bessent went to the Oval officer to make their respective cases about their preferences for the acting IRS commissioner. Trump supported Bessent's choice which rankled Musk. After they exited the Oval Office, they started exchanging insults. Bessent called Elon Musk a fraud. That led to the exchange of blows. Before this, Musk expressed his feelings about Trump's tariffs and made personal appeals to Trump to revese the tariffs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A stress-relief game that everyone around me is playing Elvenar - Play on Browser Learn More Undo After his exit from the White House, Musk started to attack Donald Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill and their public spat brought their relationship to an end with Elon Musk calling Trump ungrateful, liar and also a pedophile as he hinted that Trump's name is there in Epstein Files. He also called for Trump's impeachment. Donald Trump reacted in a measured way threatening to cut federal funding for Musk's companies. Elon Musk. A day later, Musk deleted his most damning post linking Trump to Epstein but Trump issued another threat that Elon Musk will face very serious consequences if he starts bankrolling Democrats for office.
