President Donald Trump departed for his first trip abroad — this time to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — from a position of strength as he hopes to make $1 trillion in deals and strike a balance between diplomacy and business in the Middle East.

Trump is again diverging from U.S. presidential habit by choosing the Middle East, not Canada or Mexico, for the first foreign trip of his second term. Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar are three of the world's richest nations and they invest deeply in military and security technologies.

Witkoff has embraced untraditional tactics and defied some conservatives as the administration seeks quick wins in the Middle East. Now his strategy is being put to the test.

US President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia to foster economic and bilateral relations, emphasizing dealmaking and cooperation. The visit included agreements on military and cultural fronts, high-profile engagements with business leaders,

Trump issued a warning that the US will never allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. He also urged Iran to choose between continuing what he described as “chaos and terror” or pursuing a path toward peace.

Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani discusses efforts around Gaza, Iran, Congo and Ukraine.

In Riyadh, Trump calls Iran the region's most destructive force, blaming it for suffering across the Middle East