Trump visits Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE: What to know

Donald Trump's first state visit in his second term will kick off in Saudi Arabia, followed by Qatar and the UAE, with a focus on economic partnerships and diplomatic efforts to address regional issues like the Gaza ceasefire and stalled Saudi-Israel normalization talks. The trip follows his April papal funeral, marking his second foreign visit as president. While Trump aims to secure major deals and advance his Middle East agenda, notably skipping Israel amid current tensions in Gaza and growing political friction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, countries involved are increasingly investing in deepening U.S. ties, though resistance persists over his proposed Gaza redevelopment plan.