President Trump on Tuesday held out Saudi Arabia as a model for a reimagined Middle East, using the first major foreign trip of his term to emphasize the promise of economic prosperity over instability in a region reeling from multiple wars.
Meanwhile, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and 18 other states filed two new lawsuits on Tuesday against the Trump administration, aiming to block “imminent” funding cuts to states that don’t help carry out federal immigration enforcement.
Here’s how the day unfolded.
Federal judge OKs use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans who are labeled gang members — 9:01 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A federal judge says President Trump can use the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan citizens who are shown to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
The ruling Tuesday from U.S. District Judge Stephanie Haines in Pennsylvania appears to be the first time a federal judge has signed off on Trump’s proclamation calling Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization and invoking the 18th century wartime law to deport people labeled as being members of the gang.
Also Tuesday, another federal judge in the western district of Texas temporarily barred the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport people in that region. At least three other federal judges have said Trump was improperly using the AEA to speed deportations of people the administration says are Venezuelan gang members.
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Haines, a Trump appointee, also said the administration hasn’t been giving enough notice to people facing removal under the AEA. She ordered the administration to provide at least 21 days notice — far longer than the 12 hours that some deportees have been given.
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The ruling doesn’t address whether the administration can remove people under other immigration laws, nor does it address whether Trump can invoke the Alien Enemies Act to deport people who simply migrated to the U.S. and who aren’t members of a foreign terrorist organization, Haines wrote. She also did not weigh in on whether people suspected of being members of other gangs could be removed under the act.
But she did say the Act can be used to remove Venezuelan citizens who are at least 14 years old, who are in the U.S. without legal immigration status, and who are members of Tren de Aragua.
Trump implores Iran to make deal over nuclear program — 8:15 p.m.
By the Washington Post
On Iran, President Donald Trump said “I don’t like permanent enemies,” as he implored Tehranto make a dealwith the United States over the country’s nuclear program.
“I’m here today not merely to condemn the past chaos of Iran‘s leaders, but to offer them a new path,” Trump said during his remarks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after a long, detailed condemnation of Iran‘s regional leadership and domestic policies.
While in Saudi Arabia, Trump is probably hearing calls to avoid war with Iran. Israel has expressed an eagerness to use military force against Tehran, but leadership in Saudi Arabia is nervous about the potential economic consequences of further violent escalations in the region.
“I am willing to end past conflicts and forge new partnerships for a better and more stable world, even if our differences may be very profound, which obviously they are,” Trump said.
Negotiators from the U.S. and Iran have met four times over the past two months in Oman and Italy. Both sides have described the talks positively, but it’s unclear how much progress has been made.
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Trump warned Iran that the current talks will face a time limit.
“This is an offer that will not last forever. The time is right now for them to choose, right now. We don’t have a lot of time to wait,” he said.
Federal grand jury indicts Wisconsin judge in immigration case, allowing charges to continue — 7:06 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A federal grand jury has indicted a Wisconsin judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities.
Federal prosecutors charged Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan via complaint in April with concealing an individual to prevent arrest and obstruction. A grand jury affirmed the charges in an indictment after convening Tuesday to determine whether there was enough probable cause to continue the case.
FBI agents arrested Dugan at the Milwaukee County courthouse a week after authorities said she directed Eduardo Flores-Ruiz out a back door in her courtroom after learning immigration agents were in the courthouse searching for him. According to court documents, Flores-Ruiz illegally reentered the U.S. after being deported in 2013.
What senators are saying as Schumer vows to hold up Justice Department nominees over Qatar plane — 6:54 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune, of South Dakota, declined to give a direct opinion on Trump possibly accepting a free plane from Qatar to replace Air Force One, but he said that if it happens, “I can assure you there will be plenty of scrutiny.”
Democratic Sens. Brian Schatz and Richard Blumenthal, both of Hawaii, went to the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon and tried to force a vote on a resolution disapproving of the Qatari gift.
“It really should go without saying, but no president should be accepting a $400 million gift from a foreign country,” Schatz said. “It is gross, it is reckless, it is corrupt, and the outrage and condemnation especially on the Republican side should be universal.”
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The vote was blocked by Republican Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who said Democrats are “losing their mind over the situation” and the gift is not a done deal. He said that if the Qatari government does donate the plane, “the only thing we should say is ‘thank you.’”
US-China deal to slash tariffs eases burden on cheap packages — 6:35 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Online shoppers in the U.S. will see a price break on purchases valued at less than $800 and shipped from China after the Trump administration reached a truce with Beijing over sky-high tariffs.
In an executive order Monday, the White House said the tariffs on low-value parcels originating from China and coming through the U.S. Postal Service will be lowered to 54%, down from 120%.
It also says a flat rate charged as an alternative to the value-based tariff will be kept at $100 per package, rather than being raised to $200 on June 1 as previously decreed.
The new rules go into effect Wednesday.
How to impress a US president? Spin up a fighter jet escort for Air Force One. — 6:28 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Saudi Arabia didn’t even wait for Trump to land before it set out to impress him in a sky-high way.
As Trump flew into Riyadh, Air Force One received a ceremonial escort from six Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s as it approached the kingdom’s capital — an exceptionally rare sight.
Margo Martin, a White House official, posted video of the escort online, declaring, “Saudi F-15’s providing honorary escort for Air Force One!”
The Royal Saudi Air Force has the world’s largest fleet of F-15s after the US Air Force.
Mexican security chief confirms cartel family members entered US in a deal with Trump administration — 6:27 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Mexico’s government has confirmed reports that 17 family members of the son of a former cartel leader crossed into the United States.
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Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said Tuesday that it appeared to be part of a deal between the Sinaloa Cartel’s Ovidio Guzmán López and the Trump administration.
Independent journalist Luis Chaparro reported over the weekend about Guzmán Lopez’s relatives. The family flew from Sinaloa to Tijuana and crossed on foot to San Diego, California. Guzmán López is a son of former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Federal judge OKs use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans who are labeled gang members — 6:22 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A federal judge says Trump can use the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan citizens who are shown to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
The ruling Tuesday from US District Judge Stephanie Haines in Pennsylvania appears to be the first time a federal judge has signed off on Trump’s proclamation calling the gang a foreign terrorist organization and invoking the Alien Enemies Act to deport those labeled as being members.
At least three other federal judges have said Trump was improperly using the 18th century wartime law to speed up deportations.
Palestinian UN ambassador welcomes Trump’s visit to region and hopes for ceasefire deal — 6:20 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Riyad Mansour said that he hopes Trump’s trip to the Middle East will prove fruitful for the ongoing, devastating war between Israel and Hamas.
“We hope that President Trump’s visit to the region will allow to achieve such a ceasefire, and to build a political horizon of freedom for the Palestinian people, security for all and shared prosperity for our region,” Mansour said during a U.N. Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Also on Tuesday, Antoine Renard, the U.N. World Food Program’s director for Gaza, told The Associated Press that a quarter of Gaza’s population is at risk of famine. That’s despite all the food needed to feed the territory’s population sitting in warehouses in Israel, Egypt, and Jordan — and most of it is not even 25 miles away, he said.
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MAGA allies criticize Trump’s plan to accept $400 million jet from Qatar as Air Force One: ‘I’m so disappointed’ — 5:49 p.m.
By Alyssa Vega and Jim Puzzanghera, Globe Staff
President Trump’s announcement that he would accept a $400 million luxury jet from the Qatari royal family to serve as Air Force One sparked an immediate backlash, not only from Democrats but from stalwart MAGA supporters.
A number of Republican lawmakers, including MAGA allies, have also raised concerns, despite Trump’s claim that the plane is a gift to the Defense Department, not a personal gift to him.
Trump told reporters Monday that the aircraft would eventually be decommissioned and placed in his future presidential library. He said he would not use it after leaving office.
Some Republican lawmakers have raised ethical concerns over the plan, while others warned of potential safety and security risks.
“Air Force One is the symbol of America,” Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told Spectrum News on Monday. “When it lands or flies, it is America flying and landing. And I want to make sure that this whole thing is kosher. Time will tell.”
Overhauling Qatari plane as a secure flying White House would take years, leading Democrat says — 5:08 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump is failing to take into account how much of an overhaul a Qatari-offered plane would need to serve as Air Force One — or how long that would take, U.S. Sen Jeanne Shaheen says.
The ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says it would be better for Trump to wait for Boeing to finish an American-built replacement for the aging current versions
Air Force One needs secure communications, ability to refuel in the air, a state-of-the-art surgical center and other attributes the free plane that Qatar has offered Trump won’t have, Shaheen said.
“And by the time you did all that, the plane’s going to be ready from Boeing anyway, or the president’s going to be out of office,” she said.
After even after all that, Shaheen says there’s no practical way to be sure any gift plane from a foreign government is secure. She added that regardless, accepting such a gift would be unconstitutional and corrupt.
20 Democratic attorneys general sue Trump administration over conditions placed on federal funds — 5:06 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A coalition of 20 state Democratic attorneys general say the Trump administration is threatening to withhold billions of dollars in transportation and disaster-relief funds unless states agree to certain immigration enforcement actions.
The attorneys general filed two federal lawsuits Tuesday.
According to the complaints, both Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have threatened to cut off funding to states that refuse to comply with Trump’s immigration agenda.
An official with the Department of Homeland Security said the lawsuit will not prevent Trump from “restoring the rule of law.”
The Department of Transportation did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Trump wants ‘the most impressive plane’ — 4:55 p.m.
By the Associated Press
While flying to Riyadh on Air Force One, Trump sat down for an interview with Sean Hannity, one of his biggest boosters on Fox News. The president defended his efforts to accept a donated replacement plane from Qatar, which is the second stop on his Middle East trip.
He noted that Arab nations have brand new Boeing 747s.
“And you see ours next to it, this is like a totally different plane. It’s much smaller, it’s much less impressive, as impressive as it is,” Trump said, according to excerpts released by Fox News.
He added that “with the United States of America, I believe that we should have the most impressive plane.”
Trump also said there’s no reason to avoid accepting a donated plane from Qatar.
“My attitude is, why wouldn’t I accept a gift?” he said. “We’re giving to everybody else, why wouldn’t I accept a gift?”
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince gives Trump a lavish royal welcome — 4:50 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Three years after Joe Biden’s cursory greeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump luxuriated in an extravagant royal welcome as he arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Concerns about human rights and fossil fuels in the oil-rich autocracy were nowhere on the agenda. Instead, the day was all about cutting deals and celebrating a personal relationship that has endured through scandal and political turmoil.
The crown prince, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, has been eager to rehabilitate his global image after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which U.S. intelligence officials accused him of ordering. He’s also seeking an economic revival for the kingdom to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, and the occasion was an opportunity to demonstrate that the floodgates for investment were open again.
US Democratic senator praises Trump’s announcement that the US will move toward lifting sanctions on Syria — 4:45 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen praised Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would move toward lifting sanctions on Syria in a bid to help a new interim government there that says it’s trying to pull the country out of years of war.
The sanctions were initially imposed on Syria’s previous Russia- and Iran-allied leader, Bashar Assad, whom the U.S. and others punished for brutality during Syria’s long civil war. A rebel coalition overthrew Assad late last year.
“We have a real opportunity I think in Syria,” after Assad’s overthrow, Shaheen told reporters.
She said it is important to “provide the opportunity” to keep post-war recovery in Syria moving in a way that keeps Russia and Iran from regaining influence there.
Did Trump help get Pete Rose reinstated? — 4:37 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson were reinstated by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday, making both eligible for the sport’s Hall of Fame after their careers were tarnished by sports gambling scandals.
Manfred discussed Rose with Trump when the pair met in April, but he hasn’t disclosed specifics of their conversation.
Trump has said he intends to pardon Rose posthumously, though it’s not clear what that would entail.
Rose entered guilty pleas on April 20, 1990, to two counts of filing false tax returns. He had agreed to a permanent MLB ban the year prior after an investigation concluded Rose repeatedly bet on the Cincinnati Reds as a player and manager of the team, a violation of a long-standing MLB rule. He died Sept. 30 at age 83.
Will Putin show for talks with Zelensky? A leading Senate Democrat bets not — 4:37 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A leading Senate Democrat says she expects Russian President Vladimir Putin to be a no-show at planned Ukraine ceasefire talks in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Asked Tuesday if she thought Putin will attend Wednesday’s session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said, “No.”
“If Putin doesn’t show up, that’s a reinforcement of the message that he’s done everything he can to slow-walk these negotiations,” Shaheen told reporters.
It also would be another sign that the U.S. must increase pressure on Russia to engage in serious talks to end its invasion of Ukraine, Shaheen said.
Critics have accused the Trump administration of shifting the onus of concessions in the war to U.S. ally Ukraine, while supporting Putin’s demands in the war. Senior Trump officials are scheduled to attend Wednesday’s talks in Turkey.
Trump finishes his day in Riyadh at a state dinner — 4:19 p.m.
By the Associated Press
No media was allowed inside. Reporters are usually invited in to witness toasts from the leaders, but not this time.
The president will attend another state dinner on Wednesday in Qatar, the next stop on his Middle East trip.
US Senator Lindsey Graham visits Turkey to meet with officials to ‘assess the situation in Syria’ — 4:17 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump has said he will ease sanctions on Syria and move to normalize relations with its new government. Trump is set to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
In a statement, Graham said certain conditions should be met before the U.S. lifts a designation listing Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism. He said the administration would need to “submit a report to Congress on how circumstances have changed.”
The Republican senator from South Carolina said he is “inclined to support sanctions relief for Syria under the right conditions” but said the U.S. must remember that the Syrian government “achieved its position through force of arms, not through the will of its people.”
DOGE removed dozens of contracts from its list of savings after they were resurrected — 3:56 p.m.
By The New York Times
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is no longer claiming credit for killing dozens of federal contracts after The New York Times reported last week that they had already been reinstated.
The Times had identified 44 revived contracts, and 43 of them were still featured on the group’s online “Wall of Receipts” as of last week. Then, late Sunday, Mr. Musk’s group deleted those claims for 31 of the contracts from its website, eliminating $122 million of the savings it claimed to have achieved by cutting federal contracts.
Trump’s plan to accept free Air Force One replacement from Qatar raises ethical and security worries — 3:38 p.m.
By the Associated Press
For President Trump, accepting a free Air Force One replacement from Qatar is a no-brainer.
“I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer,” the Republican told reporters on Monday. “I could be a stupid person and say, ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.’”
Critics of the plan worry that the move threatens to turn a global symbol of American power into an airborne collection of ethical, legal, security and counterintelligence concerns.
“This is unprecedented,” said Jessica Levinson, a constitutional law expert at Loyola Law School. ”We just haven’t tested these boundaries before.”
Trump tried to tamp down some of the opposition by saying he wouldn’t fly around in the gifted Boeing 747 when his term ends. Instead, he said, the $400 million plane would be donated to a future presidential library, similar to how the Boeing 707 used by President Ronald Reagan was decommissioned and put on display as a museum piece.
Trump may be in Saudi Arabia, but he’s playing a starring role at Cannes’ opening — 3:26 p.m.
By the Associated Press
As the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival got underway Tuesday, Trump was frequently invoked.
Leonardo DiCaprio presented Robert de Niro with an honorary Palme d’Or, praising the 81-year-old performer — a fierce critic of Trump — for “fighting for our democracy.” Accepting the award, De Niro quickly turned to speaking about Trump, who recently said he wants to enact a tariff on films made outside the country.
“He has cut funding and support to the arts, humanities and education. And now he announced a 100% tariff on films made outside the United States,” De Niro said. “You can’t put a price on connectivity.”
Trump administration announces $450 million in new Harvard funding cuts — 3:16 p.m.
By Mike Damiano, Globe Staff
The Trump administration’s antisemitism task force announced Tuesday that federal agencies would cut an additional $450 million in funding to Harvard.
The announcement comes a day after Harvard president Alan Garber denounced the Trump administration’s funding cuts as “unlawful” government overreach.
The cuts add to the more than $2.2 billion in research funding for Harvard that the government had previously frozen after the university refused to comply with an extraordinary list of demands.
20 Democratic attorneys general sue Trump administration over conditions placed on federal funds — 2:57 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A coalition of 20 state Democratic attorneys general filed two federal lawsuits on Tuesday, claiming that the Trump administration is threatening to withhold billions of dollars in transportation and disaster-relief funds unless state’s agree to certain immigration enforcement actions.
According to the complaints, both Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have threatened to cut off funding to states that refuse to comply with President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.
While no federal funding is currently being withheld, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said during a press conference on Tuesday that the threat was “imminent.”
“President Donald Trump can’t use these funds as a bargaining chip as his way of ensuring states abide by his preferred policies,” Bonta added.
Israel carries out strike on Gaza hospital — 2:40 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The Israeli military said it had carried out a strike targeting what it said was a Hamas “command and control center” beneath a hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.
The strike on the European hospital was the second one Tuesday on a hospital in the city.
The bodies of six people who were killed in Tuesday afternoon’s strike were taken to Nasser hospital, where AP reporters saw the bodies.
Earlier Tuesday, Israel struck Nasser hospital, saying militants were operating inside it, without identifying them. Two people, including a journalist who was targeted in an earlier strike, were killed.
Parents of freed American-Israeli hostage say he told of difficulty in captivity — 2:24 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Speaking a day after his release from Gaza, Edan Alexander’s parents said their son described enduring hunger, lack of water, and “appalling sanitary conditions.”
His mother, Yael, said he feared for his life every day, “but the most terrible sound that Edan feared was the sound of the war going on above their heads. Deafening explosions, the whistles of missiles, the sounds of collapse, collapse, and the earth shaking.”
Alexander’s parents called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to listen to “the vast majority of the Israeli public,” asking him to prioritize the return of the remaining hostages. They thanked Trump and his envoys for “their tireless efforts on Edan’s behalf.”
Alexander’s father, Adi, said Edan would soon be back home in the United States, “watching his little brother play basketball, reuniting with his friends in New Jersey.”
Iran state television barely mentions Trump’s visit — 2:19 p.m.
By the Associated Press
While Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia is making global headlines, Iranian state television largely ignored the trip in its latest news bulletin.
The network did not include the visit in its top stories and briefly mentioned it only in the second half of its coverage, noting that Trump had signed oil and technology agreements with Saudi officials and that Riyadh had pledged to invest in the United States.
House Republicans look to help Trump strip tax-exempt status of nonprofits he says support terrorism — 2:14 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Language added Monday to a reconciliation bill from the House Ways and Means Committee would allow for terminating the tax-exempt status of groups the administration deems “terrorist supporting organizations.” Some nonprofits say that would create an arbitrary standard to financially punish charities that advocate for issues that don’t align with Trump’s agenda.
The language mirrors a bill from the last Congress that passed in the House but did not pass the Senate. Both the previous bill and the new one face concerns from a variety of groups.
The provision would create a new way to strip tax exemptions granted by the IRS to charitable organizations.
Trump’s final event in Riyadh will be at the birthplace of the first Saudi state — 1:55 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi de facto ruler, is set to fete Trump with an opulent state dinner Tuesday evening at Ad-Diriyah.
The UNESCO heritage site is the birthplace of the first Saudi state and the site of a major development project championed by the crown prince.
It’s set to be Trump’s final event of the day in Riyadh.
UN welcomes easing of US sanctions on Syria — 1:53 p.m.
By the Associated Press
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Tuesday that the easing of sanctions on Syria “is a positive development, inviting a broader investment” in the country.
The lifting of sanctions will help the reconstruction of Syria and “help the Syrian people recover from more than a decade of conflict, a decade of underinvestment,” Dujarric said. It will put more of a focus “on economic development, on private businesses and investment.”
The United Nations will continue to support Syria’s reconstruction, whether it’s physical or psychological, “for it to be a country where all Syrians of all faiths, of all ethnicities and minorities feel safe and represented.” Dujarric said.
Trump says he’ll ease sanctions on Syria — 1:41 p.m.
By the Associated Press
In his remarks before investors, Trump said he will move to normalize relations with Syria and lift sanctions on its new government to give the country “a chance at peace.”
Trump said the effort at rapprochement came at the urging of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi de facto ruler, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“There is a new government that will hopefully succeed,” Trump said of Syria, adding, “I say good luck, Syria. Show us something special.”
RFK Jr. says his kids are ‘Bernie fans’ as he praises Trump executive order aimed at cutting prescription drug costs — 1:31 p.m.
By Alyssa Vega, Globe Staff
At a White House press conference to discuss President Trump’s executive order aimed at cutting prescription drug prices, HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said some his children are Democrats and “big Bernie Sanders fans.”
“I have a couple of kids who are Democrats — big Bernie Sanders fans — and when I told them that this was going to happen they had tears in their eyes,” Kennedy said Monday as he stood beside Trump. Kennedy, the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, didn’t specify which of his six children are Sanders supporters.
Under the executive order, Kennedy has one month to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs. If those talks fail, he’ll be responsible for creating a policy that aligns US drug costs with the lower rates paid by foreign countries.
Trump is trying to find and exploit the leverage points for everyone — except those giving him gifts — 1:25 p.m.
By James Pindell, Globe Staff
President Trump’s second term is all about leverage. He’s pulling every string and leaning on every institution — from college presidents and NATO allies to adversary nations, cable news executives, and prosecutors — trying to force concessions and prove that he alone still holds the cards.
But while Trump obsessively seeks ways to coerce others, the formula for winning him over hasn’t changed at all. You don’t need a strategy memo, a policy agenda, or an alliance network. You just need a little flattery. Maybe some gifts. Maybe a plane.
What’s different is how much more direct the transactions have become in his second term.
Saudi King Salman absent so far from Trump state visit — 12:48 p.m.
By The New York Times
King Salman of Saudi Arabia has so far been absent from official ceremonies and high-level meetings in Riyadh, where President Trump is beginning the first major international trip of his second term.
Instead, the task of welcoming Mr. Trump at the V.I.P. section of King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital fell to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler.
Sirens sound in Israel — 12:43 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A missile fired from Yemen set off sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the Israeli military said.
The military said it intercepted the missile.
The announcement came minutes after President Donald Trump ended his speech in Riyadh, during which he criticized the Houthi militant group in Yemen.
‘YMCA’ blares as Trump wraps his speech at Saudi investor conference — 12:42 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The late 1970s song by the Village People is a staple of Trump’s campaign rallies.
He spoke for about 50 minutes, addressing regional and global concerns, before wrapping up. Trump smiled and shook hands with the crown prince before leaving the stage.
Trump says potential talks between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey ‘could produce some pretty good results’ — 12:36 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be among top U.S. officials traveling to Turkey for talks Thursday on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Trump said he’s been working “relentlessly” to end the bloodshed.
“We’ll see if we can get it done,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he’ll be waiting for Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Istanbul.
Putin has not said whether he will show up.
Trump says people of Gaza ‘deserve a much better future’ — 12:36 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump said during his address in Riyadh that he was working to end the Israel-Hamas war as quickly as possible.
Criticizing Hamas, he said that improving Palestinian lives in Gaza “cannot occur as long as their leaders choose to kidnap, torture and target innocent men and women for political ends.”
“The way those people are treated in Gaza,” he said, “there’s not a place in the war where people are treated so awful.”
Trump also lauded his administration’s negotiations to return Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who Hamas released from captivity Monday.
Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and other CEOs join Trump at US-Saudi lunch — 12:32 p.m.
By The New York Times
Joining Trump and top US and Saudi officials for lunch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, are dozens of business leaders from some of America’s largest companies.
The executives may be there to pitch for business from deep-pocketed Saudi investors, businesses and government departments. Their companies are also dealing with the tariffs imposed by Trump on US trading partners, so the trip is an opportunity to lobby top Trump officials, such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, on trade policy.
Notable AI players at the lunch include Sam Altman, chief executive of ChatGPT parent OpenAI; Jensen Huang, the leader of advanced chipmaker Nvidia; Ruth Porat, chief investment officer of Alphabet, Google’s parent company; and Andy Jassy, the chief of Amazon, which is a major provider of cloud-computing services.
There is also Elon Musk, who, in addition to overseeing Trump’s effort to slash the size of the federal government, also runs Tesla, SpaceX and his own AI company called xAI, which is in talks for new financing that could value the firm at as much as $120 billion.
Here’s what Trump said about the Abraham Accords — 12:17 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump said it was his “fervent hope and wish, even my dream” that Saudi Arabia “will soon be joining the Abraham Accords.”
He said Saudi will “do it in your own time” but added that “it will be a special day in the Middle East, with the whole world watching, when Saudi Arabia joins us.”
Joining Abraham Accords would be a major policy shift for Saudi Arabia — 12:09 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Saudi Arabia long has maintained that recognition of Israel is tied to the establishment of a Palestinian state along the lines of Israel’s 1967 borders. Under the Biden administration, there was a push for Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel as part of a major diplomatic deal.
However, the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel upended those plans and sent the region into one of the most diplomatically fraught periods it has faced.
The Abraham Accords in Trump’s first term saw both Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recognize Israel. Morocco and Sudan also had their own deals.
Trump says he hopes Saudi Arabia will soon join the Abraham Accords and recognize Israel ‘in your own time’ — 12:03 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump denounces interventionist foreign policy — 12:01 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump lauded Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries for “developing your own sovereign countries, pursuing your own unique visions, and charting your own destinies in your own way.”
“In the end, the so-called “nation-builders” wrecked far more nations than they built — and the interventionists were intervening in complex societies they did not understand,” the U.S. president said.
Trump says America is ‘rocking’ — 12:00 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump talked about his economic, immigration and other policies before getting to the heart of his speech at a Saudi investor conference.
He touched on steps his administration has taken to crack down on illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border, boasted that recruitment into the military is higher and declared that trade negotiations with the United Kingdom and China have been fruitful.
He did not mention his tariff policy, which upended global markets in April before he changed course.
Trump said he was sharing an “abundance of good news from a place called America,” and added: “We are rocking.”
Trump tells Saudis in speech that China had ‘agreed to open up to the US for trade’ — 11:57 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump is delivering his foreign policy address in Saudi Arabia Tuesday as U.S. stocks are up again. Markets enjoyed a big gain to start the week following the United States and China’s announcements of a 90-day pause in their trade war to allow for negotiations.
Trump calls Mohammed bin Salman an ‘incredible man’ — 11:46 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump lavished praise on the Saudi crown prince and his family in the first address of his Mideast trip.
Speaking to a large crowd at the Saudi-US investment forum, he called the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia a “bedrock of security and prosperity.”
More on Trump’s call for a new nuclear deal with Iran — 11:44 a.m.
By the Associated Press
According to White House excerpts of his foreign policy address, Trump also will say he wants to avoid conflict with Tehran.
“As I have shown repeatedly, I am willing to end past conflicts and forge new partnerships for a better and more stable world, even if our differences may be profound,” Trump will say.
More on Trump and Syria — 11:42 a.m.
By the Associated Press
“The President agreed to say hello to the Syrian President while in Saudi Arabia tomorrow,” the White House said.
The U.S. has been weighing how to handle al-Sharaa since he took power in December.
Gulf leaders have rallied behind the new government in Damascus and will want Trump to follow, believing it is a bulwark against a return to influence in Syria of Iran, which helped prop up Assad’s government during a decade-long civil war.
Claps, cheers and whistles for Trump and the Saudi crown prince — 11:40 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The crowd is exuberant. Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to be an American” played as Trump joined Mohammed bin Salman on stage.
The crown prince spoke first, at a podium underneath a massive chandelier with the American and Saudi flags emblazoned behind him. Trump watched with earbuds for translation in his ears. Then he stood in front of a giant Saudi flag on a big screen as Greenwood’s song played. The audience of Saudis in traditional red-and-white checkered headscarves and robes recorded the moment on their phones as Trump swayed to the music.
Trump pushes in Saudi Arabia speech for a new nuclear deal with Iran — 11:38 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Iran and the United States have held multiple rounds of negotiations over Tehran’s rapidly advancing program. They come after Trump in his first term unilaterally withdrew from Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, setting the stage for years of tensions and attacks across the wider Middle East.
While Gulf Arab states felt anger toward President Barack Obama for striking the deal without involving them in their minds, now the countries of the region have been pushing for de-escalation as tensions remain high over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
Trump in Saudi Arabia speech to urge Iran toward a ‘new and a better path’ as he pushes for new nuclear deal — 11:33 a.m.
By the Associated Press
A White House take on at Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia — 11:29 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The White House says Trump’s “foreign policy address will outline an optimistic vision for the future of the Middle East, and his approach to achieving a more stable region and peaceful world.”
“He will contrast the path of economic self-development taken by many Gulf Nations with the self-destructive path of exporting terror and mayhem taken by the Iranian regime and its proxies.”
“He will offer Iran a path to a brighter future, while opening the door to new chapters in America’s relations with Lebanon and Syria.”
Before Trump’s speech, a pause for some real estate visions — 11:25 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump and Prince Mohammed stopped to look at several models for mega construction projects for the kingdom.
The projects are part of the prince’s efforts to pivot the country’s economy away from the oil reserves that had made them fabulously wealthy over the decades, but now are in question as concerns grow globally over climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
The two leaders entered to the theme music from the 1997 Harrison Ford thriller “Air Force One.”
Trump to meet with Syria’s Ahmad al-Sharaa, the former insurgent who led Assad’s overthrow — 11:24 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The U.S. once offered $10 million for information about the whereabouts of the insurgent formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani. He had joined the ranks of al-Qaida insurgents battling U.S. forces in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq.
Syria’s new president came back to his home country after the conflict began in 2011, and led al-Qaida’s branch that used to be known as the Nusra Front. He later changed the name of his group and cut links with al-Qaida before they finally succeeded in overthrowing Bashar Assad in December.
Musk warmed up the crowd for Trump and the crown prince — 11:20 a.m.
By the Associated Press
With Trump and Prince Mohammed running over 45 minutes late to the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, billionaire Elon Musk suddenly came out on the stage as almost a warm-up act for the leaders.
Musk said he showed Tesla robots off to the two leaders.
“In fact one of our robots did the Trump dance,” Musk said, drawing laughter.
Musk also said Saudi Arabia had approved Starlink internet service for “maritime and aviation use.”
Trump to meet Wednesday with Syria’s Ahmad al-Sharaa, onetime insurgent who led overthrow of Assad, White House says— 11:19 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Hospital official says freed American-Israeli hostage appears ‘stable overall’ — 11:18 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The full medical implications of Edan Alexander’s prolonged captivity will continue to be assessed in the coming days.
That’s according to a statement from Gil Fire, deputy director of the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center where Edan Alexander is being treated.
Hamas released Alexander on Monday after more than 19 months in a goodwill gesture to the Trump administration.
Noting that Alexander was born in the very same Tel Aviv hospital, Fire said he’s now staying at a specially prepared unit designed to cater to all of his medical needs “while also offering a home-like atmosphere that supports his adjustment to his new reality, with full privacy and in accordance with his preferences.”
Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince arrive at conference center — 11:15 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The two leaders appeared about 70 minutes late, the late afternoon light glowing behind them, and entered an area called “The Gallery of Memories” about the history between the two countries.
Senate Democratic leader say’s he’ll hold up Justice nominations until he gets answers on plane — 11:04 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that Trump’s plan to accept Qatar’s donation of a 747 to replace Air Force One “is not just naked corruption, it is also a grave national security threat.”
Schumer wants the DOJ to investigate whether Qatari foreign agents in the US could benefit Trump or his business. He also wants to know how security measures will be built into the plane and how it will paid for.
The holds means the Senate can’t quickly confirm any Justice nominations, such as US attorneys, which are often approved by voice vote.
“Until the American people learn the truth about this deal, I will do my part to block the galling and truly breathtaking politicization at the Department of Justice,” Schumer said.
Boeing announces large plane sale in Saudi Arabia during Trump trip — 11:03 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Boeing Co. announced Tuesday that it’s selling 20 planes to a Saudi-based aircraft lessor, with options to buy 10 more.
The deal will see AviLease of Riyadh get the single-aisle 737-8 Boeing airplanes.
The announcement didn’t include a price.
Republicans line up against Trump accepting Qatari 747 for Air Force One — 11:00 a.m.
By the Associated Press
- “It would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America. That would be ideal.” — Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley.
- “I don’t think it looks good or smells good.” — Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul
- “Regardless of how beautiful the plane may be, it opens a door and implies the President and US can be bought. If this were Biden, we would be furious.” — Trump’s first-term UN ambassador Nikki Haley.
Trump has bristled at suggestions that he should turn down the plane, comparing the potential gift to favors on the golf course. “When they give you a putt, you pick it up and you walk to the next hole and you say, ‘Thank you very much,’” he said.
Trump now says he won’t fly the Qatari 747 after his term ends — 10:57 a.m.
By the Associated Press
For President Trump, accepting a free Air Force One replacement from Qatar is a no-brainer: Saying “No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane,” would make him a ”stupid person,” he told reporters.
Trump tried to tamp down some of the opposition by saying the $400 million plane would be donated to a future presidential library, but that hasn’t quelled the controversy. Democrats are united in outrage, and even some of the Republican president’s allies are worried.
Critics of the plan say it could turn a global symbol of American power into an airborne collection of ethical, legal, security and counterintelligence concerns.
An air-conditioned ‘family’ picture — 10:30 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Ahead of President Donald Trump’s arrival to the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, people tried to crowd into the auditorium of the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center. Saudi officials pressed the doors closed to those outside.
And then business leaders and Saudi officials went on stage for a family portrait, reflecting a global change in attitude toward the kingdom.
One journalist, trying to describe the opulence of the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center with its crystal chandeliers, referenced the Palace of Versaille in France. Meanwhile, attendees shivered in the air-conditioned dark of the auditorium hall as the temperatures outside climbed over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Cheaper gas prices a boon for Trump — 10:20 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Saudi Arabia and fellow OPEC+ nations have already helped their cause with Trump by stepping up oil production. Trump sees cheap energy as key to lowering costs and stemming inflation for Americans, and to hastening an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.
But Saudi Arabia’s economy remains heavily dependent on oil, and the kingdom needs a fiscal break-even oil price of $96 to $98 a barrel to balance its budget. How long OPEC+ will keep production elevated — Brent crude closed Monday at $64.77 a barrel — is questionable.
“One of the challenges for the Gulf states of lower oil prices is it doesn’t necessarily imperil economic diversification programs, but it certainly makes them harder,” said Jon Alterman, a senior Middle East analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Trump and Saudi crown prince finalize agreements between US and Saudi Arabia — 9:45 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump and the the Saudi crown prince shook hands and signed an economic agreement between the US and Saudi Arabia.
The leaders then watched as members of the Trump cabinet and the Saudi government exchanged folios and shook hands over a number of contracts between the two countries.
The agreements include energy cooperation, modernizing the Saudi armed forces, judicial cooperation between the Justice Ministry and the Saudi judiciary, assistance between customs authorities and collaborations between the Smithsonian Museum and Saudi institutions.
Saudi businessman says Trump administration understands ‘reality’ of fossil fuels — 9:43 a.m.
By the Associated Press
A Saudi businessman indirectly offered the best explanation of why the kingdom is such a Trump supporer.
“We are happy with the President Trump administration because at least they come to reality and reality (is) fossil fuel, we need it forever,” said Mohammad A. Abunayyan, the founder and chairman of ACWA Power.
Such remarks were heard again and again at the Saudi-US Investment Forum that Trump will speak at later on Tuesday.
“We don’t want people to lecture us, as it has happened in the past – what’s wrong and what’s right,” Abunayyan added. “Each country has to decide by its own and no country will come and force you to do something.”
Netanyahu says there is ‘no way’ Israel will halt its war in Gaza as Trump tours Mideast — 9:42 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Israeli prime minister says that any ceasefire deal with Hamas would be temporary.
Netanyahu’s statement came ahead of Trump’s visit to the Middle East, which did not include a stop in Israel.
Netanyahu said that if Hamas were to say it would release more hostages, “we’ll take them, and then we’ll go in. But there will be no way we will stop the war.”
Israel says 58 hostages remain in captivity, with about 23 of them said to be alive.
FIFA’s Infantino reminds Americans what the world calls soccer — 8:58 a.m.
By the Associated Press
FIFA President Gianni Infantino joked that the kingdom is: “A great football country, actually for the Americans in the room, soccer, when we speak about football, we mean soccer. That’s another debate.”
Infantino spoke from the stage of a Saudi investment forum underway in Riyadh.
He also called Saudi Arabia “my country,” using the Arabic saying for “welcome” to claps from the audience.
Infantino then kicked a soccer ball bearing the logos of the U.S.-Saudi investment summit into the crowd, drawing a call from a presenter for people to “be careful.”
During Trump’s visit, Saudis say they are jumping into the AI race — 8:53 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The kingdom will promote its own company called Humain, which will be overseen by the crown prince.
NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang said on Tuesday that his company will partner with Humain to do a “500 gigawatts deployment” with the company.
No immediate terms for the deal were discussed.
US officials tell families of Israeli hostage they will accept nothing less than everyone’s return — 8:43 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The US special envoy for the Mideast and the Trump administration’s envoy for hostage affairs have told the families of hostages still held in Gaza that they will do what is needed to bring everyone home.
The two officials are next traveling to Qatar to join Trump there. Qatar has been a key mediator during the 19-month Israel-Hamas war.
Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, said they wouldn’t be traveling to Qatar if they didn’t think there was a genuine chance for progress in negotiations.
Trump to visit the birthplace of the Saudi monarchy — 8:40 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump will visit the ancient mud-brick city of Diriyah during his visit to Saudi Arabia.
The city is home to a UNESCO World Heritage site and an important symbol of the monarchy that the Saudi government has pumped more than $60 billion into.
Diriyah, just outside of Riyadh, was the seat of power of the First Saudi State, which lasted from 1727 to 1818.
Today, it’s a major tourist draw that includes ancient buildings, historical exhibits and restaurants.
Trump to stay at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh — 8:36 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Ritz-Carlton that Trump is staying in during his visit to Saudi Arabia has in the past hosted the crown prince’s political friends and foes alike.
Trump stayed at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh on his visit to the kingdom as president in 2017.
The hotel was turned into a makeshift detention center later that year as the crown prince detained top princes, businessmen, military officers and officials.
The government at the time called it an unprecedented anti-corruption campaign, saying it netted over $100 billion in revenue, while critics viewed it as a way for the crown prince to sideline rivals and consolidate power.
JD Vance calls released American-Israeli hostage, credits Trump administration for his freedom — 8:29 a.m.
By the Associated Press
JD Vance posted on X that Edan Alexander is “free after almost 600 days of captivity thanks to President Trump’s leadership” and also the hard work” of Trump’s Mideast envoy.
The 21-year-old Alexander was freed on Monday in what the administration described as a goodwill gesture by Hamas.
Alexander, who has both US and Israeli citizenship, was the last living American hostage that Hamas had been holding.
Vance said on X that he spoke with Alexander and Witkoff earlier on Tuesday. Trump also spoke with Alexander on Tuesday.
Trump says he and Saudi crown prince like each other “a lot” — 8:27 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump offered the assessment as he and Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader held talks at the Royal Court in Riyadh.
He called Mohammed bin Salman a friend and said they’d developed a good relationship. He spoke about visiting Saudi Arabia in 2017 on the first foreign trip of his first term in office.
Trump has said he decided to make Saudi Arabia his first official overseas stop again because of the kingdom’s promise to invest $600 billion in the United States. He joked Tuesday that they could bump it up to $1 trillion.
“I really believe we like each other a lot,” Trump said.
Trump’s trip is a green light for businesses to return to Saudi Arabia — 8:25 a.m.
By the Associated Press
For Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Tuesday’s visit by President Donald Trump caps what’s been a series of major events to bring the kingdom back into the embrace of international business.
Businessmen thronged to a Saudi investment forum, a stark contrast to what happened after the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was slain by a Saudi hit squad at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led war in Yemen, which saw civilian casualties in their airstrikes, has faded into the background as the kingdom has sought a peace deal there and a detente with Iran, their regional rival.
Instead, the world’s media has crowded into the kingdom and broadcast images of the crown prince, smiling, greeting Sam Altman of OpenAI and Elon Musk. Meanwhile, the kingdom will host the FIFA 2034 World Cup, which will draw more attention here.
Freed American-Israeli hostage says he feels weak but is OK — 6:43 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Edan Alexander has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“It’s crazy. It’s unbelievable,” Alexander said about his freedom in remarks released by Netanyahu’s office.
Asked how he feels, Alexander answered: “Ok, weak, but slowly we’ll get back to what we were before.”
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff then got on the call and Netanyahu expressed his gratitude to the US president for helping to free Alexander.
Trump speaks with released Israeli-American hostage — 6:42 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump has spoken from Saudi Arabia with released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander.
In a post on X, the US special Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff said he met with Alexander and they spoke with Trump.
Witkoff said the president is committed to bringing home all of the hostages.
There were reports Alexander was going to meet Trump in Qatar this week but a statement from the hostage forum, which represents the families, said he won’t be flying there.
The family is in continuous contact with the Trump administration, it said.
Trump gets a horse escort to the Saudi palace — 6:40 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump’s armored limo, known as The Beast, was flanked by Saudi horsemen carrying American and Saudi flags as it pulled into Al Yamamah Palace.
Before going in, the Saudi crown prince walked Trump over to observe an honor guard.
The two leaders then received officials from their delegations ahead of a lunch.
Trump’s Mideast envoy meets families of Israeli hostages — 5:35 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Steve Witkoff met privately with families of the hostages in Tel Aviv’s Hostage’s Square on Tuesday.
Witkoff said he met with Edan Alexander, the Israeli-American soldier released on Monday, and that he was an “incredibly resilient young man.”
Hamas released Alexander who had been held hostage in Gaza for more than 19 months, offering a goodwill gesture toward Trump that could lay the groundwork for a new ceasefire.
Witkoff said negotiations for a more lasting cease-fire have begun, and that he hopes more hostages could be released soon. “We’re working on it,” he said.
Dozens of people stood in the Square and chanted “Bring them home now!”
Trump is now at the Royal Court — 5:30 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump and the Saudi crown prince have walked into the Royal Court in Riyadh for a meeting with the kingdom’s leadership.
Everyone rose as the two entered the opulent hall.
As Trump dismantles the Education Department, families with civil rights complaints fear justice isn’t coming — 5:20 a.m.
By Steph Machado and John Hilliard, Globe Staff
Two Black sisters say classmates repeatedly used racial slurs towards them at school. A new mom claims her disability accommodations were abruptly changed, causing her to fall behind in graduate school. A METCO student transferred out of his suburban high school after being called the N-word.
These cases are among the 12,000 civil rights complaints that were pending at the US Department of Education when President Trump took office in January. They were filed by New England parents and students who said they were discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, and disability.
But after Trump’s administration slashed the Education Department in half, closed civil rights offices, and shifted the agency’s focus to reflect the president’s priorities — including his opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies — families fear their cases won‘t be taken seriously.
China and US agree to slash tariffs, and online retailers get a reprieve — 4:42 a.m.
By Hiawatha Bray, Globe Staff
Natick resident Eric Sellke sells humorous novelty gifts made in China —plastic pickles that yodel or tell jokes, a tiny violin that plays sad songs.
But Sellke saw nothing funny in the Trump trade war with China. He described the administration’s 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports as “one of the most disruptive things that ever happened.”
But now that the United States has agreed to lower the tariff to 30 percent for at least 90 days, the pressure has eased. “This will help me with my cashflow, investing in my company instead of paying this ridiculously expensive tax,” he said. Now his big worry is whether a surge of new orders from US companies will overwhelm Chinese factories and cause backlogs at US seaports.
Trump starts his foreign trip with a crush of problems — and outsized certainty he has the answers — 4:09 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump had originally intended to use his four-day trip to press wealthy Gulf nations to pour billions in new investment into the United States. But now Trump finds himself navigating a series of geopolitical crises — and searching for glimmers of hope in the deep well of global turmoil — that are casting greater import on the first extended overseas trip of his second term.
“This world is a lot safer today than it was a week ago,” Trump crowed to reporters Monday as he sized up the foreign policy challenges he’s facing as he heads to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. “And a lot safer than it was six months ago.”
The president was brimming with an overabundance of confidence about some of the world’s most intractable problems, from tensions in South Asia to the future of sanctions in Syria to the war in Ukraine.
But behind closed doors, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim al-Thani, and Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed will be looking to get a bead on how Trump intends to push ahead on resolving the war in Gaza, dealing with Iran‘s rapidly progressing nuclear program and addressing India-Pakistan tensions.
Saudi investment minister praises US relationship — 3:30 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Saudi Arabia’s investment minister is praising his country’s relationship with the United States.
Khalid al-Falih spoke at a Saudi-US Investment Forum ahead of Trump’s arrival.
“Our bilateral relationship is one of the world’s most significant geostrategic bonds, with economic cooperation and business partnerships at its core, and serves as a force for peace and global prosperity,” he said.
He reiterated the crown prince’s pledge to see investment in the U.S. of $600 billion over the next four years.
Trump is expected to announce deals with the countries on his schedule — 3:26 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The three countries on the president’s itinerary — Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — are all places where the Trump Organization, run by Trump’s two elder sons, are developing major real estate projects. They include a high-rise tower in Jeddah, a luxury hotel in Dubai, and a golf course and villa complex in Qatar.
Trump is expected to announce deals with the three wealthy countries that will touch on artificial intelligence, expanding energy cooperation and perhaps new arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The administration earlier this month announced initial approval to sell $3.5 billion worth of air-to-air missiles for Saudi Arabia’s fighter jets.
An airport greeting by Saudi crown prince is a rare honor for US presidents — 3:23 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s airport greeting for Trump on the tarmac in Riyadh underscores the close relationship the de facto ruler of the kingdom wants to have with the American leader.
Typically, a provincial governor or another official will greet a foreign leader on arrival.
King Salman once greeted President Barack Obama at the airport on a trip to the kingdom, but then lower-ranking officials did as the kingdom grew angry over his stance on the 2011 Arab Spring and the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
Former president Joe Biden also was greeted by a provincial governor on his 2022 trip to the kingdom, before having an awkward fist-bump with Prince Mohammed, who he derided as a “pariah” during his election campaign after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
Trump is greeted by Saudi crown prince on landing in Riyadh — 3:20 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump has stepped off Air Force One in Riyadh and was greeted on the tarmac by the Saudi crown prince.
White House correspondents protest lack of wire reporters on Air Force One — 2:10 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The group representing White House journalists said Monday it was disturbed that the Trump administration barred any wire service news reporters from traveling with the president on Air Force One to the Middle East.
No reporters from The Associated Press, Bloomberg, or Reuters were on the plane, where presidents often take questions from traveling members of the press.
Budget airline begins deportation flights for ICE with start of Arizona operations — 1:32 a.m.
By the Associated Press
A budget airline that serves mostly small US cities began federal deportation flights Monday out of Arizona, a move that’s inspired an online boycott petition and sharp criticism from the union representing the carrier’s flight attendants.
Avelo Airlines announced in April it had signed an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to make charter deportation flights from Mesa Gateway Airport outside Phoenix. It said it will use three Boeing 737-800 planes for the flights.
The Houston-based airline is among a host of companies seeking to cash in on President Trump’s campaign for mass deportations.
Trump will open his Mideast trip by visiting the Saudi crown prince — 12:44 a.m.
By the Associated Press
President Trump is opening his four-day Mideast trip on Tuesday by paying a visit to Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for talks on US efforts to dismantle Iran‘s nuclear program, end the war in Gaza, hold down oil prices, and more.
The crown prince will fete Trump with a formal dinner and host a gathering of members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which is made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.