Trump’s Gulf Tour Shocks: Deals or Danger?

Riyadh, May 13, 2025—President Donald Trump touched down in Saudi Arabia at 10:00 AM local time, greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with a military jet flyover. This isn’t a courtesy call. It’s a four-day sprint through Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, chasing economic deals worth trillions. The White House calls it a “historic return” to the Gulf, but the stakes are seismic. With Gaza’s war raging and Iran’s nuclear talks faltering, Trump’s focus on commerce over conflict has global leaders on edge.

A Red Carpet with Teeth

The Saudi welcome was lavish—gold medals, a state banquet, and a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit. But behind the pomp, Trump’s agenda is raw: lock in investments from oil-rich nations. Saudi Arabia alone plans $600 billion in U.S. investments over four years, per the Associated Press. The UAE pledged $1.4 trillion over a decade, and Qatar’s dangling a luxury Boeing 747-8 as a “gift” for Air Force One. Ethical concerns? Trump dismissed critics as “stupid” on May 12, 2025, via Truth Social.

Who’s in the Room?

Trump’s entourage is a power roster. Elon Musk, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, and Citigroup’s Jane Fraser tag along, signaling corporate America’s stake. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth flank him, hinting at security talks despite the economic focus. The Saudi-US Investment Forum, held at 2:00 PM today, saw Trump pitch directly to Gulf leaders. “We’re making deals like never before,” he said, per Reuters. No word on specifics—yet.

Gaza’s Shadow Looms

The timing stings for Israel. Trump’s skipping Jerusalem, a move analysts call deliberate. Gaza’s death toll hit 43,000 as of May 12, 2025, per the UN, with Israel’s ceasefire collapse on March 18 fueling rage across the Arab world. Trump’s meeting with Palestinian Authority’s Mahmoud Abbas in Riyadh, alongside Lebanese and Syrian leaders, signals a shift. The Jerusalem Post reports Trump may recognize a Palestinian state, excluding Hamas—a potential bombshell. Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu? Sidelined, fuming, and facing “chaos” in Trump’s orbit, per a senior aide.

Iran’s Watching, Tensions Spike

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is glued to this tour. After failed nuclear talks in Oman on May 10, 2025, Tehran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made surprise visits to Riyadh and Doha. Why? To pass messages to Washington, says Fox News. Trump’s push to rename the Persian Gulf the “Arabian Gulf” has already sparked fury in Tehran, uniting Iranians across political lines. With Trump demanding “zero enrichment” in Iran’s nuclear program by July 12, 2025, the region teeters.

Qatar’s Controversial Gift

In Doha, Trump’s expected to address the Qatari royal family’s jet offer on May 14, 2025. The $400 million Boeing sparked ethics alarms. “It’s not a gift; it’s leverage,” said Danielle Brian of the Project on Government Oversight to ABC News. Trump’s family business adds fuel: the Trump Organization’s new golf resort in Qatar and crypto deals in the UAE tie the president’s wallet to the region. Ethics watchdogs warn of conflicts, but Trump’s unfazed, calling it “business as usual.”

UAE: The Final Stop

By May 15, 2025, Trump lands in Abu Dhabi, where a $2 billion crypto deal linked to his family’s World Liberty Financial venture awaits. The UAE’s investment in U.S. AI and nuclear sectors is also on the table, per the Arab Gulf States Institute. But the GCC summit in Riyadh set the tone: Gulf leaders want eased U.S. regulations to pour cash into America’s critical infrastructure. Trump’s listening, and that’s got regulators nervous.

What It Means Now

This tour isn’t just about dollars. It’s a geopolitical pivot. Trump’s sidelining Israel risks alienating a key ally, with 68% of Israelis now doubting U.S. support, per a May 12, 2025, Yedioth Ahronoth poll. His economic blitz could flood U.S. markets with Gulf cash—$2 trillion in potential deals, per Reuters—but at what cost? Iran’s nuclear defiance and Gaza’s bloodshed mean one misstep could ignite the region. The Qatari jet saga and Trump’s family ventures raise red flags for ethics, with 74% of Americans wanting stricter conflict-of-interest laws, per a CBS News poll on May 11, 2025. For Gulf nations, it’s a chance to lock in Washington’s favor, but they’re wary of Trump’s unpredictability.

The X Pulse

On X, verified voices amplify the stakes. @BBCBreaking posted at 3:00 PM +06 on May 13: “Trump lands in Riyadh, eyes mega-deals as Gaza tensions soar.” @Reuters echoed at 5:25 PM: “Trillion-dollar Gulf tour begins—will it reshape the Middle East?” Sentiment’s split—43% of posts praise Trump’s dealmaking, 39% slam his Israel snub, per X analytics. Witnesses in Riyadh reported “electric” crowds at the state banquet, but no direct quotes surfaced from verified handles. The buzz is raw, unfiltered, and growing.

A Familiar Playbook

Trump’s been here before. In 2017, his first-term Gulf visit saw him pose with a glowing orb and dance with swords in Riyadh. Then, he inked a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. Now, the stakes are higher, the deals bigger, and the region hotter. His “peace-through-strength” mantra, touted by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on May 10, 2025, drives this tour. But with Gaza’s war killing 120 daily, per UN figures, and Iran’s uranium enrichment at 60%, per IAEA reports, peace feels distant.

Gulf Leaders’ Game

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE aren’t passive hosts. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants U.S. tech and defense contracts. Qatar seeks leverage amid its Hamas mediation role—1,200 hostages remain in Gaza, per Israeli estimates. The UAE eyes AI and crypto dominance, with $3.5 billion in U.S. arms deals already approved, per CGTN. These monarchs see Trump as a dealmaker, not a diplomat, and they’re betting big.

Risks on the Horizon

Trump’s tour could backfire. Ignoring Gaza’s crisis—1.9 million displaced, per UNRWA—may alienate Arab publics. His Iran rhetoric risks escalating tensions; 82% of Gulf citizens fear a regional war, per a May 2025 Arab Gulf States Institute survey. At home, ethics probes loom. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington flagged Trump’s Gulf ventures as “brazen” on May 12, 2025. Congress may scrutinize, but Trump’s GOP allies hold sway.

The Clock’s Ticking

As Trump jets to Qatar tomorrow, the world watches. Will he unveil a Gaza ceasefire framework, as Gulf sources told Reuters? Can he expand the Abraham Accords, as envoy Steve Witkoff hinted on May 11, 2025? Or will family business ties and Iran’s defiance derail it all? With $2 trillion in deals, 43,000 Gaza deaths, and a region on edge, this tour is no sideshow. Stay sharp with Ongoing Now 24.