President Donald Trump visited U.S. installation at the center of American involvement in the Middle East as he uses his four-day visit to Gulf states to reject the “interventionism” of America’s past in the region.
The president has held up Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar as models for economic development in a region plagued by conflict as he works to entice Iran to come to terms with his administration on a deal to curb its nuclear program.
What to know:
- Trump downplayed Putin’s decision to skip Russia-Ukraine talks: The Russian president sent a delegation to planned peace talks in Turkey. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy had previously said he’d participate only if Putin showed up. But Trump said he was not surprised that Putin was a no-show. “I didn’t think it was possible for Putin to go if I’m not there,” he said in an exchange with reporters.
- The president is still eyeing an Air Force One replacement: The president says he’s ready to accept a donated jet from Qatar, despite concerns that it could be less secure, costly to retrofit and a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition on foreign gifts.
- Trump’s trip could be a turning point for Syria: The president has used his trip to announce plans to recognize the government of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and to ease sanctions on the war-torn country.
