Rachel Abrams

And it just seems like it's hard to think of this as anything other than a gift, even if they've technically donated it to the Department of Defense.

And it just seems like it's hard to think of this as anything other than a gift, even if they've technically donated it to the Department of Defense.

Do we have any idea what might be in it for the Qataris to do this?

Do we have any idea what might be in it for the Qataris to do this?

I understand that we don't actually know what they want now or maybe would want in the future, but could you just, Maggie, tick through the relationships between Trump world and Qatar? You mentioned Pam Bondi. Like, what else do we know? It's a good question.

I understand that we don't actually know what they want now or maybe would want in the future, but could you just, Maggie, tick through the relationships between Trump world and Qatar? You mentioned Pam Bondi. Like, what else do we know? It's a good question.

Maggie, as you almost certainly know, Trump is currently in the Middle East on I think this is his first major trip since coming back into the White House for a second term. One of the stops that he's on is to Qatar. And it's notable where he's not going, which is Israel, despite the fact that the biggest conflict in the Middle East is in Gaza, obviously, between Hamas and Israel.

Maggie, as you almost certainly know, Trump is currently in the Middle East on I think this is his first major trip since coming back into the White House for a second term. One of the stops that he's on is to Qatar. And it's notable where he's not going, which is Israel, despite the fact that the biggest conflict in the Middle East is in Gaza, obviously, between Hamas and Israel.

What do we make of this?

What do we make of this?

So the deals, deals, deals, the deal making, what kind of deals and with whom? What are we talking about?

So the deals, deals, deals, the deal making, what kind of deals and with whom? What are we talking about?

So taking all of this together, the plane deal with Qatar, the trip with all these business leaders with no clear diplomatic purpose, I can see why it all feels a little unclear as to what President Trump's primary goal is here.

So taking all of this together, the plane deal with Qatar, the trip with all these business leaders with no clear diplomatic purpose, I can see why it all feels a little unclear as to what President Trump's primary goal is here.

Maggie, it's been a pleasure. Thank you so much. Rachel, thank you. Thank you. we'll be right back Here's what else you need to know today. On Tuesday, President Trump announced that he would end sanctions on Syria. The move throws an economic lifeline to a country that, until December, had been devastated by years of civil war and dictatorship under the Assad family.

Maggie, it's been a pleasure. Thank you so much. Rachel, thank you. Thank you. we'll be right back Here's what else you need to know today. On Tuesday, President Trump announced that he would end sanctions on Syria. The move throws an economic lifeline to a country that, until December, had been devastated by years of civil war and dictatorship under the Assad family.

The sanctions were imposed more than a decade ago in response to the Assad government's brutal crackdown on the country. And they've been a stranglehold on Syria's economy ever since. A majority of the population lives in crushing poverty. The surprise announcement from President Trump came on day one of his trip to the Middle East.

The sanctions were imposed more than a decade ago in response to the Assad government's brutal crackdown on the country. And they've been a stranglehold on Syria's economy ever since. A majority of the population lives in crushing poverty. The surprise announcement from President Trump came on day one of his trip to the Middle East.

And he's expected to meet with the new president of Syria today in Saudi Arabia. Today's episode was produced by Michael Simon-Johnson and Olivia Natt. It was edited by Chris Haxel and Rachel Quester with help from Paige Cowett. Contains original music by Dan Powell and Marion Lozano and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsberg of Wonderly.

And he's expected to meet with the new president of Syria today in Saudi Arabia. Today's episode was produced by Michael Simon-Johnson and Olivia Natt. It was edited by Chris Haxel and Rachel Quester with help from Paige Cowett. Contains original music by Dan Powell and Marion Lozano and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsberg of Wonderly.