**Trump Kicks Off Gulf Tour in Saudi Arabia, Seeks Trillions in Investment, Not Security Talks**
U.S. President Donald Trump began his latest tour of the Middle East on Tuesday with a high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, where economic cooperation—not regional security—topped the agenda. Skipping stops in Israel, Trump is focusing instead on securing major investment deals from Gulf states.
Upon landing in Riyadh, Trump was greeted with fanfare by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), and arrived with a delegation of top business leaders including Elon Musk, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Trump is targeting over \$1 trillion in deals from Gulf partners, with Saudi Arabia alone having already pledged \$600 billion.
The centerpiece of his visit is the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, where Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih emphasized that energy remains vital but that business opportunities between the two nations are "multiplying." A promotional video with soaring eagles and falcons highlighted the decades-long U.S.-Saudi partnership.
MbS’s ambitious Vision 2030 plan, which includes mega-projects like the futuristic NEOM city, was a major talking point. Musk and other top executives joined Trump and the Crown Prince for a private lunch, underscoring the business-heavy focus of the visit.
Trump's itinerary continues with visits to Qatar on Wednesday and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. A possible stop in Turkey is under consideration for talks on ending the war in Ukraine, but Israel is notably absent from the trip—raising eyebrows in Jerusalem and fueling concerns over shifting U.S. priorities.
Back in Washington, frustration is growing over the lack of progress in Gaza, where Trump is pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire and support a new aid mechanism. Over the weekend, U.S. and Iranian officials met in Oman to explore diplomatic options on Iran’s nuclear program, with Trump warning that military action remains on the table if talks fail.
In parallel, Trump is pushing to expand the Abraham Accords—historic normalization agreements between Israel and Arab states brokered during his first term. However, sources say Netanyahu's opposition to a permanent Gaza ceasefire and a Palestinian state is a major roadblock to bringing Saudi Arabia on board.
Trump is also expected to offer Riyadh an arms deal valued at over \$100 billion, according to sources, in what could be a significant strategic move to deepen U.S.-Saudi ties amid ongoing regional tensions.
As geopolitical tensions simmer—from Gaza to Ukraine and Iran—Trump’s message is clear: the U.S. wants Gulf billions, and it's business first.