Donald Trump’s recent tour of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar was, by all accounts, a resounding success. In less than 72 hours, the US president secured deals worth nearly $4trn, while the Gulf states saw in these agreements an opportunity for economic and security partnerships they have long sought—strategic imperatives tied to their national survival and continuity. On the surface, it was a mutually beneficial enterprise.
However, across the Atlantic, skepticism abounds. In Washington, many observers perceive Trump’s Gulf deals as rife with conflicts of interest and ethical ambiguities. During his return flight aboard Air Force One, the US president conspicuously sidestepped questions from journalists about the legal and moral implications of his family’s business dealings in the region. When asked about a $2bn cryptocurrency deal reportedly struck by a UAE-based company with a Trump-affiliated firm, he disclaimed knowledge: “I really don’t know anything about it,” he insisted, before reiterating his enthusiasm for cryptocurrency and warning that, should the US fail to lead in crypto and AI, China inevitably will.
Further controversy surrounds the proposed “LIV Golf” resort project—heavily financed by Saudi Arabia and linked to Trump—which reportedly featured prominently in his private discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. And this was merely one among a slew of deals inked during the visit, involving Trump family ventures in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman. These included the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Dubai, a Doha golf resort in partnership with Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, Trump Tower Jeddah, a hotel under construction in Muscat, and a partnership with Saudi-based Dar Global.
These lucrative ventures bearing the Trump name have fueled political uproar in Washington—not only among Trump’s Democratic opponents but even within Republican circles. Critics note that the US president never formally divested from the Trump Organization and continues to profit from its business dealings well into his political comeback, actively promoting these ventures despite officially transferring management to his family before reentering office.
This tangled web of personal gain and public duty has eroded voter trust. As US media outlets increasingly question whether Trump prioritizes national interests or personal enrichment in shaping foreign policy, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt felt compelled to declare that any gifts from foreign governments were being handled “in full compliance with all applicable laws” and that the administration remained committed to complete transparency.
Trump’s strategic embrace of the Middle East is no secret. The region provides fertile ground for the US president’s ambitions to recast himself as both a global peace broker and a champion of open business and diplomacy. In this context, it was hardly surprising that, during his Riyadh visit, he unveiled plans to lift US sanctions on Syria and extended an olive branch to Iran, offering “a new and hopeful path” toward a better future. While visiting Qatar, he publicly praised the warming ties between Doha and Riyadh and lavished compliments on his Qatari host: “We just came from Saudi Arabia, where we have another great friend. You guys get along beautifully, and you remind me of each other—both tall, handsome, and very smart.”
Such sentiments marked a striking pivot from Trump’s first term, when he had singled out Qatar as a chief sponsor of terrorism. Nor was it surprising that he defended Qatar’s controversial gift of a private jet—a Boeing 747 worth over $1bn, twice the aircraft’s publicly stated value—hailing it as a “magnificent gesture” and suggesting it would be foolish to refuse. Trump insisted the plane would eventually be donated to his presidential library foundation upon leaving office.
Democrats swiftly seized on the growing scandal. The Democratic National Committee announced plans to fly a banner reading “Qatar-a-Lago” over Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, while some Republican allies voiced unease. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin labeled the aircraft gift “a bizarre gesture,” and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas warned it could raise serious espionage and surveillance concerns.
Now, that very jet may serve as grounds for congressional action against Trump. The spark came at a White House press conference when Trump expelled an NBC journalist for broaching the topic. Lawmakers are now examining legislative amendments to block the jet’s entry into the United States, potentially risking political fractures within the Republican Party while arming Democrats with a potent line of attack ahead of a turbulent midterm season.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer unveiled draft legislation to prohibit the use of any foreign aircraft for presidential transport, framing Trump’s scheme as a national security hazard laced with corruption allegations. The bill would prevent the Pentagon from allocating any federal funds to acquire, modify, or maintain such an aircraft for presidential use.
According to NBC News, the plane’s true value exceeds $1bn, far surpassing the declared figure and threatening to burden American taxpayers. Senator Rand Paul voiced concern that the Qatar jet risked overshadowing what had otherwise been a diplomatically fruitful Middle East tour. Trump, meanwhile, took to his Truth Social platform to accuse “crooked Democrats” of being incensed by what he called a transparent and public gift to the Defense Department intended to replace the aging 40-year-old presidential aircraft.
Ultimately, Trump’s Gulf visit revealed how thoroughly the lines between public office and private business interests have blurred. US media outlets are now delving deeper into these murky intersections, with further revelations likely to follow.
Dr. Hatem Sadek – Professor at Helwan University
