President Donald Trump arrived Wednesday in Qatar, where he was greeted by the country’s ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim Al Thani, as he kicked off the second leg of his three-nation Middle East tour this week.
In a stunning engagement earlier in the day in Saudi Arabia, Trump met with Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa — who as an insurgent had spent years imprisoned by U.S. troops in Iraq. Trump said the rapprochement with Syria came at the urging of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“There is a new government that will hopefully succeed,” said Trump, who announced he’ll move to lift sanctions on Syria to give the country “a chance at peace.”
“I say good luck, Syria. Show us something special,” Trump said.
In Saudi Arabia, Trump focused on dealmaking with the kingdom, a key Mideast ally. Trump and Prince Mohammed, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, signed a host of economic and bilateral agreements. Trump also touched on shared concerns about the war in Gaza and Iran’s nuclear program. Trump said he wants to avoid conflict with Tehran, urging Iran to take a “new and a better path” as he pushes for a new nuclear deal.
Here’s the Latest:
In a scenario mimicking the lavish Saudi welcome, Trump lands in Qatar
On his flight from Saudi Arabia, Air Force One was escorted by Qatari F-15 jets, according to a post on X by White House official Margo Martin. It was a repeat of Tuesday’s escort by Saudi Arabian fighter jets, which was a high-profile move without recent precedent.
Trump was greeted at the airport by Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim Al Thani. Both leaders then walked down a receiving line of representatives from each country at the Amiri Diwan, the government palace. The ceremonial greeting also included an escort of riders on camelback.
While Al Thani shook hands with U.S. officials, he had a warmer greeting for Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy who has played a key role in Middle East negotiations. They clasped hands and pulled each other in for an embrace. Trump then sat down briefly with Al Thani and marveled at the government palace.
“As a construction person, I’m seeing perfect marble,” said the former real estate developer. He described it as “perfecto.”
Is Putin leading Trump on?
President Donald Trump says he doesn’t think Russian President Vladimir Putin will go to Turkey for ceasefire talks with Ukraine unless he also goes.
“I don’t know if he would be there if I’m not there,” Trump said, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he was flying from Saudi Arabia to Qatar.
He noted that his schedule on Thursday is “all booked out” with a state visit in Qatar, set to include an engagement with U.S. troops in the region. Trump didn’t categorically rule out visiting Turkey, but said he planned to send Secretary of State Marco Rubio in his stead.
Trump also said he’ll know more in a few days if Putin is just leading him on on its openness to negotiations to end its war on Ukraine.
Asked if he believed Putin was just “tapping” him, as he suggested earlier this month, Trump said in response: “I’ll let you know in a few days.”
Trump’s impressions of Syria’s new leader: ‘Pretty amazing’
Trump praised Syria’s new leader after their meeting in Saudi Arabia.
He’s a “young, attractive guy,” Trump said. “Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter.”
Trump also said he thought al-Sharaa has “got a real shot at holding it together.”
“I think he’s got the potential to do — he’s a real leader. He led a charge and he’s pretty amazing,” Trump said, adding that he believes al-Sharaa will eventually join the Abraham Accords and recognize Israel.
“I think they have to get themselves straightened up,” Trump says. “I told him, ‘I hope you’re going to join when it’s straightened out.’ He said, ‘Yes.’ But they have a lot of work to do.
No clue about stablecoin, Trump says
Trump says he “doesn’t know” how an Emirati investment firm chose a stablecoin launched by one of his businesses for a $2 billion investment.
“I don’t know anything about it,” Trump says when asked by reporters aboard Air Force One about the transaction.
A state-backed investment company in Abu Dhabi announced it had chosen USD, World Liberty Financial’s stablecoin, to back a $2 billion investment in Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.
Trump on Thursday is set to travel to Abu Dhabi on the final leg of his Gulf states trip that has seen his business and official interests intersect.
Iran unhappy with Trump’s moves on Syria
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed displeasure at Trump’s announcement about the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria.
Araghchi, who is Iran’s nuclear negotiator, slammed Trump as having a “very deceitful viewpoint.”
“What he stated about the hope of regional nations for a progressive, flourishing path, is the same path that people of Iran decided through their revolution,” Araghchi said.
“It was the U.S. that blocked progress of Iranian nation through sanctions for more than 40 years as well as its pressures, military and nonmilitary threats,” he added.
Trump dives into Mideast crises in his speech to GCC leaders
Trump told GCC leaders in Riyadh that he wanted to secure a deal that would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
He said he hoped for a “future of safety and dignity of the Palestinian people” but not with Gaza’s current leaders, Hamas, who he said “delight in raping, torturing and murdering innocent people.” He said his sanctions relief for Syria would “give them a fresh start.”
He told the room of regional leaders that the the world was watching them “with envy” but added: “if we can simply stop the aggression from a small group of pretty bad actors.”
Trump also dove into U.S. politics, making sure to mention his victory in the 2024 election, which he called historic. He said the Biden administration “created havoc and bedlam.”
Photos show up of Trump’s meeting with Syria’s al-Sharaa
The photos show Syrian interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, shaking hands with the Saudi crown prince, with Trump standing behind them. The three leaders later posed for a photo, Trump smiling broadly. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had joined the gathering by phone.
The source of the photos was not immediately clear, though Syrian activists and others shared them and local Saudi-owned media began publishing them.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said later in a statement that Trump urged al-Sharaa to “do a great job for the Syrian people.”
He also asked him to diplomatically recognize Israel, “tell all foreign terrorists to leave Syria” and help the U.S. stop any resurgence of the Islamic State group, as well as having Syrian government “assume responsibility” for detention centers holding IS militants.
For his part, al-Sharaa expressed “hope that Syria would serve as a critical link in facilitating trade between east and west, and invited American companies to invest in Syrian oil and gas,” Leavitt wrote.
Brought to you by www.srnnews.com
