U.S. President Donald Trump launched his four-day Middle East tour with a high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, greeted warmly by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at King Khalid International Airport. The reception included an honorary escort by Saudi fighter jets and traditional Arabic hospitality at the Riyadh airport. The visit emphasized economic collaboration, with Trump expected to engage in investment discussions and announce deals spanning artificial intelligence, energy cooperation, and arms sales. Trump and the crown prince, appearing in high spirits, also attended a formal lunch with key global business leaders including Elon Musk and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.

The visit marks Trump’s strategic push to strengthen ties with Gulf nations, notably Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE — all hosts to major Trump Organization ventures. With oil prices dropping and global inflation rising, Trump is positioning cheap energy as a pillar of his economic vision. Saudi Arabia, dependent on oil revenues, faces pressure balancing its budget and economic diversification goals amid fluctuating crude prices. Trump’s diplomacy is underscored by personal and political incentives, hoping to portray his transactional foreign policy as effective while facing domestic and international criticism over his unilateral approach to conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza.

While Trump builds rapport with Saudi Arabia, his decision to bypass Israel on this trip has drawn attention. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were reportedly left uninformed about major U.S. moves—such as halting airstrikes in Yemen and nuclear discussions with Iran. Trump’s efforts to revive normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia face new challenges amid the ongoing Gaza war and Riyadh’s demands for U.S. security guarantees and steps toward Palestinian statehood. Analysts interpret Saudi meetings with Palestinian leaders as a signal to Trump: progress on Palestine remains a prerequisite for any normalization talks with Israel.