Donald Trump touched down in Saudi Arabia early Tuesday morning to a warm welcome by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he began the first leg of a whirlwind Gulf tour. Business deals are at the top of the U.S. president’s busy agenda that also takes in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The four-day, multi-nation diplomatic sweep trip marks Trump’s first major visit abroad of his second term with the White House saying he looked forward to a “historic return” to the region, AFP notes.
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a “coffee ceremony” at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Win McNamee/Getty)
Saudi fighter jets escorted Air Force One as Trump landed in the capital Riyadh.
The Saudi royal family plans a lavish welcome for the 78-year-old Republican who will also address an investment forum.
The president will take part in a summit of Gulf Arab leaders Tuesday before heading to Qatar.
Trump’s visit came after he said Monday he’s ready to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from the ruling family of Qatar and thanked them for the gesture.
“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, according to the AFP report.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump will promote a vision where “extremism is defeated in place of commerce and cultural exchanges.”
Trump’s high-stakes gulf tour set out in geographical detail. (Yasin Demirci/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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.
AFP contributed to this report
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