It shouldn’t be surprising that Donald Trump has been praising Saudi Arabia for attracting $600 billion worth of investments on his current Middle East whirlwind tour. Specifically, the White House hailed a $ Saudi Arabia financial commitment, which the kingdom hasn’t made yet. This decision was widely celebrated as an important part of a larger plan to improve bilateral relations. We understand that Trump’s schedule is filled with crucial commitments. In recent weeks, he shared lunch with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Saudi royal court in Riyadh.
The Middle East tour comes amid Trump’s administration’s proposed major shake-up of the U.S. State Department, which has raised discussions about the future of American foreign policy and its implications on international business relations. This massive redo has created some amazing opportunities for big tech companies like Palantir. They’re stepping in with their AI tools to fill the gaps left by federal agencies running on a short staff.
America and Saudi Arabia should lead the world in developing emerging technologies. In particular, he highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence as a part of these conversations. Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, remarked on this vision, stating, “It is an incredible vision, indeed, that Saudi Arabia should build the AI infrastructure of your nation so that you could participate and help shape the future of this incredibly transformative technology.”
Trump’s tour also included a state dinner at Lusail Palace in Lusail, Qatar, where he engaged with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The two leaders made pleasant small talk about their shared interests, all while reaffirming their countries’ decades-long friendship. After dinner, Trump participated by video in a signing ceremony in Doha. He signed a historic new partnership with the Emir and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, one of several efforts to deepen the two countries’ economic interdependence.
On this trip, we have witnessed the parade of CEOs and companies deepening their relationship with Trump’s administration. The engagement of business leaders from America’s top corporations during a luncheon in Saudi Arabia reflects an increasing recognition of the strategic importance of these relationships.
Yet even as he’s deepening international ties, Trump’s policies have had effects here at home too. His tariffs on aluminum have even forced companies such as Coca-Cola to rethink their packaging plans. The beverage giant plans to launch a trial in the U.S. that will replace aluminum bottles with plastic ones. This amendment was made directly in response to increasing costs stemming from Trump’s trade policies.
Moreover, the regulatory challenges faced by Elon Musk’s companies have begun to ease under Trump’s administration, allowing them more flexibility to operate and innovate in a rapidly changing market landscape.
Trump’s inauguration fund has, perhaps surprisingly, been one of the key forces helping to advance his initiatives. It raised a then record-shattering $239 million, in part financing his own presidential library. This financial support serves to highlight the outsized power he still holds, even out of office.
… through a contemporary gauntlet of international relations and domestic business challenges. He has continued to be a key player and lightning rod, garnering reaction from proponents and opponents alike. As Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, noted on social media, “watching @potus more carefully recently has really changed my perspective on him,” indicating that perspectives on his leadership are shifting within the tech community.