Trump wraps Middle East tour with grand promises, warm praise, and elusive deals

US President Donald Trump capped off a whirlwind Middle East trip this week by declaring that diplomacy, under his watch, now runs on “the power of love.” Over four frenetic days across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, Trump leaned into pageantry and personal rapport, setting aside geopolitical caution in favour of affection, spectacle, and sky-high investment claims—many of them unverifiable or previously announced, the Washington Post reported.

“I have to be a cheerleader for our country,” Trump said, repeatedly boasting that no other president would be doing what he is: personally promoting American corporations and chasing down mega deals abroad.

Deals with unclear details

Throughout the trip, the White House released a cascade of press releases touting deals supposedly worth hundreds of billions—culminating in the bold assertion that Trump had secured more than $2 trillion in investments. But many of the agreements were aspirational, repackaged, or light on detail. Sceptics point out that even Saudi Arabia, which Trump claims committed $600 billion, may struggle to deliver half of that, given strained budgets and slow oil revenues.

Trump offered full-throated endorsements of companies like Boeing and General Electric, applauding the “hottest engines” and “best planes” while lamenting that many of the announced projects wouldn’t finish until after his term ends. “Somebody’s going to be cutting a ribbon,” he said. “You remember, press, this guy did it.”

Trump promises peace—his way

Beyond business, Trump offered ambitious pledges to end some of the world’s most intractable conflicts. Speaking about Russia’s war in Ukraine, he brushed aside ongoing negotiations in Turkey and insisted only a personal meeting with Vladimir Putin could bring peace. “We have to meet. I think we’ll solve it. Or maybe not. But at least we’ll know,” he said, adding that he’d leave the Middle East immediately if such a meeting were arranged.

He also signalled hope for resolving the war in Gaza, emphasizing the need to aid Palestinians and expressing doubt about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ability to recover remaining hostages. “We have to help out the Palestinians,” Trump said. “A lot of people are starving in Gaza.”

A new tone on Iran and Syria

Trump revealed that negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program are progressing, and warned Tehran to act swiftly or face consequences. “They have a proposal. More importantly, they know they have to move quickly,” he said.

In a surprising diplomatic reversal, Trump met with Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa—formerly a wanted Islamist militant—and described him warmly. “Tough guy. Strong past.

Fighter,” Trump said. It marked a notable shift from earlier U.S. policy that included sanctions on Damascus, which Trump lifted before the meeting.

Marble, mosques, and messaging

Trump’s trip was full of symbolic gestures and cultural overtures. He toured two mosques, praised Islamic architecture, and visited the Abrahamic Family House, a UAE cultural centre promoting religious unity. At each stop, he praised local leaders, calling them “tremendous,” “very smart,” and even “tall, handsome guys.”

He also announced that his daughter Tiffany had given birth, and remarked that he nearly cut his trip short—but didn’t want to disappoint his Gulf hosts. “They were starving for love,” Trump said, in a dig at President Biden’s more cautious relations with the region. “Because our country didn’t give them love; they gave them a fist bump.”

Old enemies, new allies

Trump’s remarks also showcased his pragmatic, transactional approach. “I have never believed in having permanent enemies,” he said in Saudi Arabia. That philosophy was on full display in his newfound embrace of Qatar, a nation he once accused of financing terrorism, but now praises for its immaculate marble and savvy leadership.

Throughout the trip, Trump showed how receptive he is to flattery and flashy investment figures, even when the financial reality remains questionable. Leaders in the region, recognizing the formula, rolled out fighter jets, opulent buildings, and sky-high promises.

Flying home, waiting on a new plane

On his final day, Trump again mentioned his interest in upgrading Air Force One. Though he did not directly refer to the controversial offer from Qatar to gift a Boeing 747, he noted: “I leave now and get on a 42-year-old Boeing. But new ones are coming.”

Whether it’s peace deals, investment windfalls, or a new jet, the president appears convinced that his second-term foreign policy can run on charisma, personal showmanship—and the occasional “power of love.”