Trump’s Gulf Tour: Golden Camels, Cybertrucks, and Trillion-Dollar Courtships

[Social Media]

 

Trump’s Gulf Tour: Golden Camels, Cybertrucks, and Trillion-Dollar Courtships

 

During a four-day tour of the Gulf, former and current U.S. President Donald Trump was treated like royalty by the region’s wealthiest states, greeted with displays of staggering extravagance in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The elaborate welcome was not only a show of hospitality but a calculated gesture underscoring how deeply Gulf leaders value their relationship with a business-oriented American president.

 

 

From the moment Trump landed in Riyadh, the tone was set. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally welcomed him on the tarmac, a rare departure from royal protocol. In Doha, Trump’s motorcade was flanked by bright red Tesla Cybertrucks and riders on horseback. In Abu Dhabi, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed awarded Trump the Order of Zayed, the country’s highest civilian honor. As Trump approached Qatar’s presidential office, the Amiri Diwan, he was met by a parade of elite royal camels.

 

Trump's Art of the Deal in action in Saudi Arabia

 

“The optics of the U.S. leader’s Middle East visit were strong,” one observer noted, “showcasing the larger-than-life opulence of the region’s richest petrostates — and how much of that wealth they are willing to spend to deepen their ties with the U.S.”

 

 

Tarik Solomon, chairman at the American Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia, summarized the sentiment: “The Gulf has always gotten along better with business-first presidents, and President Trump fits that mold perfectly.” According to Solomon, “He still symbolizes fast money, big defense, and access to American tech. So, if cozying up to him helps secure a seat at the table of the next world order, the Gulf is bringing the gold-plated chair.”

 

 

Indeed, the numbers tied to Trump’s visit were historic. Qatar signed a $1.2 trillion “economic exchange” with the United States. Saudi Arabia committed to investing $600 billion in the U.S., while the UAE formalized a ten-year, $1.4 trillion investment framework. Qatar’s deal included a record-setting order of 210 Boeing jets, and Saudi Arabia inked a $142 billion arms agreement—the largest weapons deal ever signed. Though many of these agreements may take decades to materialize, the message was clear: Gulf leaders are making a long-term bet on a deep U.S. partnership, and Trump is the preferred partner.

 

At the U.S.-Saudi Investment Summit in Riyadh’s luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman exchanged warm praise. Top American business figures including Elon Musk, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, and BlackRock’s Larry Fink attended, cementing the event as a meeting of immense financial and political significance.

 

In the UAE, Trump’s visit marked the first by a U.S. president since George W. Bush in 2008. He and Mohammed bin Zayed highlighted both their personal bond and the enduring five-decade alliance between their nations. The contrast with recent visits from Biden administration officials—marked by tension and cautious diplomacy—was striking.

 

The UAE seems to already be reaping benefits. Reports indicate a preliminary U.S. agreement allowing the Emirates to import 500,000 Nvidia H100 chips annually—the most advanced AI chips America produces. This would supercharge the country’s efforts to become a regional hub for artificial intelligence.

 

“Trump’s trip to the Gulf reflects the increasing personalization of geopolitics,” said Taufiq Rahim, principal at 2040 Advisory and author of Trump 2.5: A Primer. “The region’s leaders have responded accordingly, putting on an ornate display for the visiting president. Flattery and compliments become as important to the announcement and substance of deals.” Rahim added, “Sure, a lot of it is theater. But in this region, signaling ambition is half the game. Even if only 50% sticks, it’s still an impactful play.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNBC  2025-05-17

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

I’m really not sure what I might say about this.

[EVENKEEL]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’m really not sure what I might say about this.

C'mon, you can think of something bad to say.

[Chomper Higgot]

10 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

C'mon, you can think of something bad to say.

Not an all, though I might have a different perspective, perhaps informed by the stark shift in U.S. Middle East Policy this ‘tour’ has signaled.

[Yagoda]

6 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Not an all, though I might have a different perspective, perhaps informed by the stark shift in U.S. Middle East Policy this ‘tour’ has signaled.

And what shift is that, other than smart diplomacy as well as a correct interpretation of the geopolitics of this area and the Arab worl.

[thaipo7]

6 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’m really not sure what I might say about this.

Say nothing then.

[Plan B]

In the field of geopolitics: Doesn’t the bully, who bypasses pretenses and speaks the blunt language of self-interest, pay off there? Shouldn’t we finally abandon the hypocrisy of the “principles” of international law and allied morality? Hasn’t America always done this? Didn’t it trade with emirs and dictators whenever it suited it, hiding its Kissingerian cynicism behind the veils of humanitarian and democratic enclosures?

It is worth weighing the new planetary ethos with its own criteria. To judge it not by the values of the post-war world, but by its own authoritarian standards. How to call a leadership that drools publicly, and on the world stage craves unscrupulous gifts and flattery? Is this a solid leadership or just timid and lost in its insatiable cravings?

This is a country whose foreign policy everyone knows they can buy. A country that if they give enough – cash, minerals, or airplanes– they can align it with their own interests.

[Thingamabob]

Trump's receptions in the Arabian Gulf states rather undermines recent comments on AN that the world is laughing at America. Quite the reverse in fact.

[Chomper Higgot]

23 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Trump's receptions in the Arabian Gulf states rather undermines recent comments on AN that the world is laughing at America. Quite the reverse in fact.

The laughing has been replaced by taking the pish.

 

 

 

 

[CallumWK]

28 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Trump's receptions in the Arabian Gulf states rather undermines recent comments on AN that the world is laughing at America. Quite the reverse in fact.

Corrupt regimes which know how to play a corrupt US President
 

[scorecard]

7 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’m really not sure what I might say about this.

I'm thinking:  don't pull out of any of these agreements, punishment probably automatic and very severe.

 

And don't pull out of any personal relationships. Could get your hands chopped off.