Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's exclusion from President Donald Trump's Mideast visit signals West Wing fatigue with the Israeli leader, The Washington Post reports, citing a senior White House official who as saying the meeting was not necessary because he had already visited Washington "700 times" since Trump's inauguration.
Trump will embark Monday on a four-day journey through wealthy Gulf monarchies, with scheduled stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The trip predominantly centers on securing commercial agreements and fresh capital from the region's affluent nations, the Post reported.
This Gulf excursion, marking Trump's first significant international venture of his second term, demonstrates the president's strategic focus and represents a departure from customary practice where new presidents typically prioritize visits to traditional Western allies. The Post reports this approach reflects Trump's personal fondness for the region, its prosperity, and the ceremonial grandeur these host countries intend to display during his visit.
The presidential tour unfolds amid numerous pressing regional security challenges, including Gaza's situation, Iran's nuclear ambitions, and Trump's longstanding aspiration to facilitate diplomatic normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The Washington Post notes that Gaza's conflict has thrust the region into turmoil, weakening Iran and its allied groups significantly and creating a distinctive moment where power dynamics could potentially shift.
White House officials indicated to the Post that security matters would not be the central focus during Trump's 3½ days in the region, highlighting the president's more limited vision for America's global role and his concentrated emphasis on business arrangements and investments that could strengthen his domestic political standing. Notably, despite its proximity, Trump has opted against visiting Israel – perceived as a diplomatic slight toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"There is a real opportunity here, but the Trump administration in no way, shape or form wants to push it, because it's not interested in reshaping the region," said Steven A. Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. "And so it's perfectly willing to cut deals with the Iranians, thereby extending the life of the regime."
The decision to start with Saudi Arabia mirrors Trump's approach from 2017, though during that first-term visit he continued onward to Israel and European partners with deeper historical connections to Washington.
This presidential journey follows recent visits by his son, Eric Trump, who along with his brother leads the Trump Organization. The Post notes Eric traveled to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in recent weeks to oversee agreements involving the family's real estate and cryptocurrency ventures. Those deals included investors connected to local governments, blurring distinctions between Trump family commercial interests and US diplomatic policy. The administration has maintained that the president no longer participates in Trump Organization operations and is making financial sacrifices to serve in office.
"President Trump will return to re-emphasize his continued vision for a proud, prosperous and successful Middle East where the United States and Middle Eastern nations are in cooperative relationship and where extremism is defeated in place of commerce and cultural exchanges," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Friday.
While Trump made an unexpected overnight trip to Italy last month for Pope Francis' funeral, the Post reports the Middle East journey was designed as the inaugural international excursion of his second term.
Gulf monarchies excel at staging elaborate displays of ceremony and spectacle, and Trump's movements from Riyadh to Doha to Abu Dhabi are expected to feature plenty of both. According to the Washington Post, during his 2017 visit, Trump joined Saudi King Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi placing hands on a glowing sphere in Riyadh, followed later by participation in a traditional sword dance.
Eight years later, similar festivities likely await before Trump attends a summit with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders. A Saudi-US business conference will happen concurrently elsewhere in the Saudi capital.
"The focus of this trip is business. It's economics. That tells you something," said Richard Haass, a veteran diplomat and president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations. "It's revealing about this administration that it's the first administration in the modern era to approach the world largely in economic and business terms rather than strategic or diplomatic terms." According to the report, even Saudi Arabia's selection as the initial destination appeared driven by a highest-bidder approach, with Trump challenging the Saudi government to increase its American investments in exchange for the coveted first visit.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was the first foreign leader who spoke with Trump after his inauguration. During that conversation, he informed the president that Saudi Arabia would invest at least $600 billion in the United States over four years. Trump requested they "round out" that commitment to $1 trillion, suggesting that would secure Saudi Arabia as his first foreign destination as president.
"They've agreed to do that, so I'm going to be going there," he said weeks later, although specifics remain unclear, and the Post notes Saudi investment claims during Trump's first term produced fewer jobs and less capital than initially projected. "I have a great relationship with them, and they've been very nice, but they're going to be spending a lot of money to American companies for buying military equipment and a lot of other things."
Meanwhile, Netanyahu won't receive a face-to-face visit in Israel, potentially complicating his domestic political position where he portrays himself as an essential link to Washington. A senior White House official told The Washington Post no meeting was necessary because Netanyahu had already visited Washington "700 times" since Trump's inauguration, seemingly suggesting some administration frustration with the Israeli leader. Netanyahu has actually visited twice – still twice more than any other world leader. The official spoke anonymously to discuss travel strategy freely.
During the visit, prominent US corporate executives will also travel to Riyadh for a Saudi-US Investment Forum. Though Trump emphasizes commerce, regional leaders will certainly raise Gaza and other critical issues even if major policy developments aren't immediately forthcoming.
Arab leaders believe Trump has granted Netanyahu unrestricted freedom to expand military operations in Gaza. US representatives have been approaching countries about accepting Gazan refugees – a step numerous Arab nations fear could facilitate complete Israeli control of the territory, eliminating its Palestinian status.
In his first term, Trump oversaw mediation between Israel and several Arab nations, normalizing relations through agreements called the Abraham Accords.
The Saudi government seeks assistance with its civilian nuclear program and expanded defense cooperation from Washington. US diplomats have offered these concessions to encourage Riyadh's normalization with Israel, but Saudi demands for a Palestinian state pathway will likely prevent a Saudi-Israel agreement for now. Some Trump officials have suggested advancing the US portion of an agreement in exchange for economic benefits or promises of future movement toward Israel.
Iran will probably emerge as another discussion topic. Trump's administration has initiated direct talks to restrict the country's nuclear weapons aspirations. Trump recently announced the US military would cease bombing the Iran-backed Houthis, a group in Yemen attacking Red Sea shipping since Hamas' assault on Israel, in exchange for protection of American vessels.
The visit coincides with Trump's family business expanding into some destinations on his itinerary. Over the past week, the Trump Organization announced new projects including a substantial hotel and tower in Dubai and a golf course near Doha. These ventures are proceeding in partnership with Dar Global, a real estate company also collaborating with the Trump Organization on other Saudi Arabian projects.
The Trump International Hotel & Tower in Dubai, announced April 30, will span 80 floors and feature a members-only club "set to redefine the meaning of exclusive luxury," according to promotional materials. The Trump International Golf Course outside Doha, announced May 1, will include an 18-hole course, clubhouse and upscale villas with beach access.
This project forms part of a development supervised by Qatari Diar, a government-run real estate authority. The Trump Organization had committed to avoiding new agreements with foreign governments during Trump's presidency.
A Trump Organization spokesperson told the Washington Post that its agreement involves only Dar Global and that the organization "has no affiliation, partnership or engagement with Qatari Diar or any other agency of the State of Qatar." When questioned Friday about whether Trump's businesses would benefit from the trip, press secretary Leavitt responded: "It's frankly ridiculous that anyone in this room would even suggest that President Trump is doing anything for his own benefit. He left a life of luxury and a life of running a very successful real estate empire for public service."
She added: "This is a president who has actually lost money for being president of the United States."
