US President Donald Trump returned to Washington on Friday after a week-long diplomatic tour of the Middle East, where he secured investment pledges but failed to reach long-promised peace deals in Gaza and Ukraine. The trip aimed to showcase Trump’s self-styled role as a dealmaker and peacemaker, with high-level talks and lavish displays of regional hospitality.
Despite securing major investments from Saudi Arabia and Qatar Airways, the trip ended without significant progress on resolving conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. In Abu Dhabi, Trump met with business leaders and took shots at his predecessor, Joe Biden.
The visit came amid controversy over Trump’s eagerness to accept a $400 million luxury plane from the Qatari government, which has drawn backlash from Democrats and some Republicans back home. The president repeatedly dismissed concerns about the plane, saying he “thought it was a great gesture.”
Trump’s trip was also marked by his attempts to resolve ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, with the release of an American held by Hamas being one notable achievement. However, the president acknowledged that significant challenges remain.
The visit concluded with Israeli airstrikes killing more than 100 people in the last 24 hours, according to local health authorities. Trump expressed a commitment to resolving the conflicts but noted that “unexpected surprises and events” would be a critical test for US administrations.
The trip’s outcome has sparked debate about Trump’s future foreign policy goals, including his ambitions to secure a historic breakthrough with Iran on nuclear talks and expand the Abraham Accords to include a Saudi-Israeli normalization accord.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-returns-washington-investment-agreements-no-major-peace-deals-rcna206896