A celebratory trip

During his four-day Middle East trip this month, President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Notably, his visit to Qatar is the first ever for a U.S. president.

During the visit, the Middle East was largely in a celebratory mood. Enthusiasm, optimism, and excitement preceded Trump’s arrival and clearly continued throughout his stay. The three Arab Muslim nations hosted him with lavish ceremonies and extravagant gestures, reflecting their high regard for the U.S. president and aligning with their tradition of grand hospitality for significant allies. One can hardly ignore the contrast between this lavish, extravagant reception and the lukewarm reception of President Joe Biden in Saudi Arabia a few years ago.

While some uncertainties remain, the trip was undoubtedly highly successful both economically and politically.

The trip’s economic focus appears clearly in the presence of such renowned U.S. business leaders as Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Larry Fink at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum. Successfully, Trump secured economic commitments from Saudi Arabia totaling approximately $600 billion, including a $142 billion arms deal. Qatar committed to an astonishing $1.2 trillion in deals, including a $96 billion Boeing agreement and $38 billion in defense investments—marking the biggest economic agreement in U.S.-Gulf history.

Further, these economic achievements were accompanied by the lifting of sanctions on Syria and a meeting between Trump and Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly known as al-Jolani, once listed as a terrorist). The U.S. sanctions on Syria have been in place since 1979. This move—although controversial and clearly discouraged by Israel—was primarily declared as an effort to support the Syrian people, who have suffered for decades under crippling sanctions. Syrians took to the streets in waves of celebration with hopes of a growing economy after decades of desperation.

While specific details of these economic deals remain limited and uncertain, they were accompanied by significant political accomplishments.

The trip laid the groundwork for a regional normalization effort between Arab Muslim nations and Israel. Discussions focused on the potential for Saudi Arabia and Syria to join the Abraham Accords to normalize relations with Israel, though these talks remain in early stages. The visit underscored Trump’s call for peace in Gaza and sent a strong message to Iran’s Shiite regime, particularly as the enthusiasm shown by various Sunni nations toward Trump increased pressure on Tehran. In response to Trump’s regional visit, Khamenei’s senior adviser told NBC that Iran is open to committing to “never making nuclear weapons” and eliminating its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, which could be weaponized—a significant political outcome of the trip.

In many ways, despite some uncertainties, the visit was remarkably successful. Several key observations can be made.

First, contrary to frequent portrayals of Trump as anti-Muslim, particularly by left-leaning critics, such claims appear to be mere propaganda. The president is clearly admired and respected by major Muslim world leaders. Second, Arab Muslim leaders are primarily motivated by economic deals and political advancement, invoking religion only when it serves their objectives. They recognize the United States as the dominant global power shaping political and economic pathways and seek strong bonds and strategic partnerships with those who hold global influence. This is clear, for instance, in how the UAE is eager for American help to become a global leader in AI.

Third, Qatar’s ambitions are particularly striking. This is evident in its commitment to $1.2 trillion in deals and the offer of a $400 million plane to the United States. Whether accepting such a gift is legal warrants scrutiny, but Qatar’s ambition is unmistakable, as it seeks favor and access to the world’s leading power. Qatar’s broader agenda is also apparent in its significant investments in U.S. universities to establish academic chairs, including in Islamic Studies, aiming to influence these departments. This is concerning and should be acknowledged by the Trump administration, given Qatar’s role as a major supporter of Hamas’ leaders and its promotion of Islamism in global affairs, per the U.S. Department of State. One reassuring factor is Trump’s history of withdrawing from deals when they do not serve U.S. interests. Nonetheless, openness to Islamists who pursue their political and economic ambitions remains a cause for concern.

Fourth, Trump sent a clear message to Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, by excluding Israel from his trip’s itinerary. The relationship between the two leaders appears strained, with Trump seemingly viewing Netanyahu as an obstacle to his regional foreign policy agenda, resulting in noticeable pressure on the Israeli leader. Nevertheless, the United States maintains an unwavering commitment to Israel, as evidenced by efforts to expand normalization agreements with additional Muslim countries. However, it seems Trump is ready and preparing for a post-Netanyahu phase in U.S.-Israel relations.

The president’s Middle East trip may reshape the Middle East in meaningful ways—and bring substantial economic benefits for the United States.