WASHINGTON — On Monday, President Donald Trump embarked on a multi-day journey to the Middle East, visiting three prosperous nations in the Persian Gulf known for their energy resources: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt presented the trip as an opportunity to demonstrate the potential for a “golden age” between the U.S. and the Middle East. Although this marks the second international journey of Trump’s term, his earlier visit to Vatican City for the Pope’s funeral holds precedence.
Leavitt emphasized that Trump would address the goal of transforming the region into one where “extremism is supplanted by trade and cultural interactions.” She mentioned that Trump plans to meet with U.S. military personnel stationed at the airbase in Qatar.
Despite the economic prospects in these three nations for both the U.S. and Trump’s enterprises, the broader region is grappling with the continuing Gaza conflict, which is inciting more aggressive actions from Iranian-aligned factions.
As Trump prepares for this trip, he arrives with some recent diplomatic achievements, including a statement from last week about the Houthi rebels in Yemen agreeing to halt attacks in the Red Sea in exchange for a cessation of U.S. bombardments. Just prior to his departure, he announced the return of Edan Alexander, the last known American hostage taken on October 7, 2023, although many other captives remain unaccounted for after a ceasefire ended nearly two months ago. Alexander’s release took place on Monday.
Qatar, notably, has played a pivotal role in negotiating past ceasefires and hostage recoveries. Trump has no scheduled visit to Israel during this trip.
Regarding Iran, Trump’s visit coincides with ongoing discussions with Iranian officials concerning their nuclear aspirations. Throughout the day, Trump has made it clear that while he desires Iran to prosper, he unequivocally opposes them acquiring nuclear weapons, despite having previously withdrawn the U.S. from the Iran nuclear agreement during his first term.
Before commencing his trip, the president remarked on the promising nature of the dialogues with Iran, stating that the nation is currently exhibiting intelligent behavior.
“I believe positive developments will emerge from our talks, and Iran is showing signs of acting sensibly,” Trump mentioned at a separate White House event. “We want Iran to become prosperous and successful, but they must not acquire nuclear capabilities.”
Economic discussions are expected to dominate the agenda during this nearly week-long visit, which begins in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was the first leader Trump contacted following his re-election. During a virtual address at the World Economic Forum, Trump requested the crown prince to increase his commitment to investing in the U.S. from $600 billion to $1 trillion.
Additionally, Qatar’s recent media attention stems from Trump’s confirmation that the Defense Department may accept a gift of an aircraft from the Qatari ruling family for Air Force One, generating questions about the implications and expectations behind such a gesture.
“I could simply decline the offer, but what’s the harm in accepting a gift?” Trump remarked. “We often provide gifts; it would be unreasonable not to receive one in return.”
The Persian Gulf holds personal significance for the Trump family, including various business ventures by the Trump Organization in the region. Last month, for instance, the organization announced a new project: Trump International Hotel & Tower in Dubai.
When asked about any potential meetings related to the Trump family’s business interests during the trip, Leavitt dismissed the notion, stating it was “completely absurd” to suggest Trump would pursue personal advantage during this visit.
During this trip, Trump is also likely to announce that the United States will start acknowledging the Persian Gulf as the “Arabian Gulf” or “Gulf of Arabia,” a change long advocated by Arab nations, although it may not hold significance beyond U.S. borders.
Trump’s delegation includes his secretaries of defense, commerce, and energy. Leavitt noted that none of the president’s family members involved in business dealings are expected to accompany him on this journey.
During his first term, Trump similarly chose Saudi Arabia as the destination for his first foreign trip, a visit that facilitated the establishment of the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the UAE.
On Monday, Trump also mentioned the possibility of adding Turkey to his itinerary, where he aims to host talks between Russian and Ukrainian leaders later in the week.
“I am unsure of my schedule for Thursday,” Trump stated. “I have numerous meetings planned, but I am considering the possibility of flying over and if any progress can be made.”