Franco Ordonez

And one reason Cook says that Gulf leaders shower Trump with such lavishness and big business deals is it insulates them. It insulates them from any extra pressure that the U.S. may want to impose on them to either take action on Gaza, for example, if they're reluctant to do so.

And one reason Cook says that Gulf leaders shower Trump with such lavishness and big business deals is it insulates them. It insulates them from any extra pressure that the U.S. may want to impose on them to either take action on Gaza, for example, if they're reluctant to do so.

I will say that it's worth noting that the president did confirm on social media last night that a deal has been struck with Hamas to release the last American hostage who's been held since October of 2023. Right.

I will say that it's worth noting that the president did confirm on social media last night that a deal has been struck with Hamas to release the last American hostage who's been held since October of 2023. Right.

I will say that it's worth noting that the president did confirm on social media last night that a deal has been struck with Hamas to release the last American hostage who's been held since October of 2023. Right.

Yeah, it does feel a little bit like deja vu. I mean, on that last trip, the Saudis really rolled out the red carpet for Trump and announced billions of dollars in investments. On this trip, Trump will boast new investments, including a promise by the Saudis to invest $600 billion in the U.S., and pledges from UAE to spend $1.4 trillion.

Yeah, it does feel a little bit like deja vu. I mean, on that last trip, the Saudis really rolled out the red carpet for Trump and announced billions of dollars in investments. On this trip, Trump will boast new investments, including a promise by the Saudis to invest $600 billion in the U.S., and pledges from UAE to spend $1.4 trillion.

Yeah, it does feel a little bit like deja vu. I mean, on that last trip, the Saudis really rolled out the red carpet for Trump and announced billions of dollars in investments. On this trip, Trump will boast new investments, including a promise by the Saudis to invest $600 billion in the U.S., and pledges from UAE to spend $1.4 trillion.

And just this weekend, the White House acknowledged, as you noted, that they're in discussions with the Qataris about possibly accepting a luxury plane that could serve as a temporary Air Force One until the new one is finished. ABC was the first to report this. And if it happens, it would be one of the first or the biggest foreign gifts ever received by the U.S. government.

And just this weekend, the White House acknowledged, as you noted, that they're in discussions with the Qataris about possibly accepting a luxury plane that could serve as a temporary Air Force One until the new one is finished. ABC was the first to report this. And if it happens, it would be one of the first or the biggest foreign gifts ever received by the U.S. government.

And just this weekend, the White House acknowledged, as you noted, that they're in discussions with the Qataris about possibly accepting a luxury plane that could serve as a temporary Air Force One until the new one is finished. ABC was the first to report this. And if it happens, it would be one of the first or the biggest foreign gifts ever received by the U.S. government.

And it's raising a lot of legal and ethical concerns. And Trump and the White House are really pushing back on those concerns, charging that this would be a transparent and in full compliance with any laws.

And it's raising a lot of legal and ethical concerns. And Trump and the White House are really pushing back on those concerns, charging that this would be a transparent and in full compliance with any laws.

And it's raising a lot of legal and ethical concerns. And Trump and the White House are really pushing back on those concerns, charging that this would be a transparent and in full compliance with any laws.

Thank you, Leila.

Thank you, Leila.

Thank you, Leila.

The White House says the trip will highlight greater cooperation in the region, where it says extremism is being replaced with commerce and cultural exchanges. Trump also plans to visit with U.S. troops stationed at the Al Udeid airbase outside of Doha in Qatar. Trump strode into office promising to bring peace in the Middle East quickly and stop Iranian advances toward becoming a nuclear power.

The White House says the trip will highlight greater cooperation in the region, where it says extremism is being replaced with commerce and cultural exchanges. Trump also plans to visit with U.S. troops stationed at the Al Udeid airbase outside of Doha in Qatar. Trump strode into office promising to bring peace in the Middle East quickly and stop Iranian advances toward becoming a nuclear power.

He also wants to persuade Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel. joining what's known as the Abraham Accords. But those efforts have been complicated by the ongoing war in Gaza. And with little progress to announce, Trump and the Gulf leaders are expected to focus less on the quest for peace and more on making business deals. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.