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Trump's Middle East trip goal: Dealmaking
Trump's Middle East trip goal: Dealmaking

The Hill

time13-05-2025

  • Business
  • The Hill

Trump's Middle East trip goal: Dealmaking

Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here It's a rainy Tuesday in D.C. In today's issue: 'Yes, I'd like to claim one jumbo jet, valued at $400 million.' President Trump kicked off his Middle East tour in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this morning with one big goal for this trip, per Axios: return with $1 trillion (!) in business deals and investment pledges. He just secured a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia. Diplomacy and geopolitics come second as a priority. More about that $600 billion deal: The $600 billion Saudi commitment will be to invest in the United States. It will also include a multibillion-dollar defense partnership. 'It includes a $142 billion defense and security deal that equips Saudi Arabia with state-of-the-art war equipment provided by dozens of U.S. firms. The equipment includes air and missile defense and air force and space advancements.' Read more Remember: Saudi Arabia's crown prince pledged shortly after Trump reentered office in January that the kingdom would invest $600 billion in the U.S. during his presidency. Economists interviewed by The New York Times said Saudi Arabia's investment is unlikely to get close to either figure. Another announcement: Trump just announced during his address that he's cutting sanctions on Syria, prompting standing ovation. 'Oh what I'd do for the crown prince,' Trump said. 🗨️ Follow today's live blogfor more evolving highlights from Saudi Arabia. What has Trump been up to today?: He attended a big lunch earlier today with a stacked guest list of powerful business executives. That list included 'representatives of four of the 10 biggest U.S. companies by market value,' per The New York Times. On the guest list: ^ That is just to name a few. Here's the guest list. ➤ LOOMING OVER THIS TRIP: The controversy over Trump accepting a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family. Trump defended the gift on Monday, arguing it would be 'stupid' not to accept the free plane. Logistically, this would be complicated: NBC News's Courtney Kube reports that it would require *significant* modifications to convert this aircraft into Air Force One. It would also need to be torn apart to make sure there are no listening devices. 📹 Watch Kube's explainer Sen. Ted Cruz has his concerns: He warned that the gift poses 'significant espionage and surveillance problems.' Other lawmakers agree with that sentiment. 'I'm not a fan of Qatar. I think they have a really disturbing pattern of funding theocratic lunatics who want to murder us, funding Hamas and Hezbollah. And that's a real problem,' Cruz told CNBC's 'Squawk Box' Tuesday. Schumer put a blanket hold on all political nominees in response: 'Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced on Tuesday that he is placing a hold on all political nominees for the Justice Department in response to President Trump's pending acceptance from Qatar of a luxury jet to serve as the next Air Force One.' Read more Other things to watch during this trip: Read The Hill's Brett Samuels and Alex Gangitano's reporting on what to watch during the trip. ➤ SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: Saudi fighter jets escorted Air Force One: 📹 Video of the F-15 escort taken from Air Force One I laughed out loud at this: CBS News's Jennifer Jacobs captured a funny moment from Trump's meet-and-greet with the Saudi crown prince. ''Deputy chief of staff,' a protocol aide said when Dan Scavino was introduced to [Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS)]. 'Deputy chief of staff,' she said of James Blair. 'Deputy chief of staff,' she said when Taylor Budowich approached. MBS joked, Is there another one? There was. Stephen Miller came next to greet him.' 😂 ^ Maybe Secretary of State Marco Rubio should also be a deputy chief of staff. You know, for the bit. Speaking of Rubio: 📹Here's a clipof Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Saudi Arabia. 📸 The Saudis set up a mobile McDonald's truck— it was parked near the media area. 📸 Trump's meeting with MBS and the prime minister of Saudi Arabia 📹 Trump and MBS The journalists covering the trip: The journalists and photographers who will serve as the White House press pool for this Middle East trip posed for a photo next to Air Force One. 📸 Photo ➤ MORE READS FROM THE TRIP: The New York Times: Trump's Plan to Take Jet From Qatar Heightens Corruption Concerns The Wall Street Journal: Trump Surprised and Sidelined Israel Ahead of Landmark Middle East Trip The Washington Post: Trump's Middle East trip marked by potential private business conflicts Fox News: Trump targets massive investments in first Middle East trip It's a critical week for the fate of President Trump's legislative agenda. Republicans are still far apart on several key issues, but regardless, they are barreling ahead with hearings to advance it. Don't forget — Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is hoping to pass the whole thing by Memorial Day. That gives him until next week. The first major hearing today: The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, will begin debating its portion of the bill at 2 p.m. EDT. The committee has been given a goal of cutting $880 billion in cuts. 💻Livestream of the 2 p.m. hearing The second major hearing: The House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over taxes, will begin debating its portion at 2:30 p.m. EDT. There are still major disagreements over how to approach state and local tax (SALT) deductions. 💻 Livestream of the 2:30 p.m. hearing Oh, and there's one more related hearing today: The House Agriculture Committee is debating its part of Trump's legislative package. This committee oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which has been a sticking point for some Republicans. 💻 Livestream of the 7:30 p.m. hearing Related read on SNAP: 'House Republicans propose major reforms to SNAP' ➤ TRUMP'S DRUG PRICING PROPOSAL PUTS REPUBLICANS IN A TOUGH SPOT: 'An executive order from President Trump aims to make deep cuts to prescription drug costs, putting GOP lawmakers who have traditionally opposed government-directed drug pricing in a tough position,' reports The Hill's Alexander Bolton. How so?: 'Republican lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (S.D.) and Senate GOP Whip John Barrasso (Wyo.), have warned in the past that directing the federal government to set drug prices will slow innovation and limit patients' access to lifesaving therapies. Now they're in the tough position of having to respond to Trump's latest move, which would cut deeply into pharmaceutical companies' profits.' Read Bolton's reporting on the Senate GOP reaction Some new reporting in CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios's Alex Thompson's new book has emerged. One of the buzziest tidbits: Tapper and Thompson report that former President Biden's physical decline in 2023 and 2024 was so severe that his advisers discussed the possibility of him using a wheelchair. They were specifically concerned about the degeneration of his spine. Their book publishes May 20. Preorder: 'Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again' The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Saudi Arabia. (All times EST) 12:50 p.m.: Trump departs the Ritz-Carlton Riyadh en route to At-Turaif Diriyah. 📆Trump's full schedule today 1:15 p.m.: Trump participates in a Saudi state dinner. 2:15 p.m.: Two Senate votes. 📆Today's agenda 3:25 p.m.: Trump returns to the Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh. 6:30 p.m.: First and last House votes. 📆Today's agenda 🥧 Celebrate: Today is National Apple Pie Day. 😉 That's Dr. Biles to you: Gymnastics legend Simone Biles gave the commencement address at Washington University in St. Louis, and she was given an honorary degree. Because I want to leave you on a great note, check out this doggy daycare that separates pups by energy level, not size. I would love to watch this day care's livestream all day.

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