U.S. President Donald Trump departed for Saudi Arabia, launching what he described as a “historic” tour of the Middle East aimed at addressing urgent regional crises, brokering business deals, and potentially paving the way for peace talks in the Ukraine war.
Air Force One took off from Washington with Trump embarking on a multi-nation trip that includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with a possible visit to Türkiye depending on developments in talks between Russia and Ukraine.
The centerpiece of Trump’s visit is the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, a conflict that has dominated regional and global headlines. Just moments before Trump boarded his plane, US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander was released by Hamas and handed over to the Red Cross — a development Trump hailed as a breakthrough.
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“He’s coming home to his parents, which is really great news,” Trump said at the White House. “They thought he was dead.” Although Trump previously vowed to swiftly end the Gaza conflict before re-entering the White House, he has recently appeared to take a more cautious approach. Still, he expressed optimism about the potential for more hostage releases and progress toward a ceasefire during his Gulf tour.
The trip also comes amid increasing tensions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom Trump has clashed over military tactics in Gaza, airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and the approach to Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump claimed that U.S.-Iran talks on nuclear issues were showing “very good things” but firmly stated, “Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon.” Adding to the tour’s high stakes is Trump’s openness to participating in potential peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, suggesting he could alter his travel plans if significant progress is made. “If I thought it would be helpful, I would go,” he told reporters, hinting at a possible summit involving Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.
This is Trump’s first major overseas trip of his second term, and its symbolism is striking. Like in 2017, his first foreign destination is Saudi Arabia, underlining the kingdom’s enduring strategic importance — and Trump’s personal business ties in the Gulf region. However, unlike 2017, Israel is not on the itinerary, signaling a notable diplomatic shift.
Qatar is expected to play a crucial role in the coming days. It has been a key intermediary in ceasefire talks and facilitated Alexander’s release. Netanyahu announced plans to dispatch Israeli mediators to Qatar on Tuesday for further negotiations.
As Trump tours the Gulf, the world watches to see whether his unconventional style of diplomacy can deliver results — not only in Gaza but also on the global stage with Ukraine and Iran.
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