With former President Donald Trump now reaffirming those business bonds on his whirlwind Middle East Tour. His work is most recently evident by his attendance at the recently held state dinner at Lusail Palace in Qatar. On May 14, 2025 Cut to Trump in the Oval Office negotiating with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg and Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. These discussions proved to be the springboard for significant partnerships in the aviation industry.
This visit comes at an opportune time for U.S. businesses. Yet Trump’s recent federal department overhauls have restructured their operations, opening up space for firms like Palantir to use AI tools as quick-fixes to fill operational gaps in agencies plagued by staffing shortages. This push for technology solutions fits into Trump’s larger goals of rejuvenating American industries.
In a noteworthy move, Nvidia contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, underscoring the company’s support for his administration. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang indeed struck a hopeful tone about the region’s recent tech successes.
“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.” – Jensen Huang
At the centerpiece of Trump’s Middle East trip was a lunch attended by over 30 of the region’s leading business luminaries. At the royal court in Riyadh, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosted the star-studded gathering. Executives from companies that played a major role in the election result Trump pumped money into his inauguration fund were in attendance. This fund went on to raise an astounding $239 million.
At their lunchtime bilateral, Trump congratulated Saudi Arabia for its pledge to wrangle up $600 billion in investments. The announcement reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen economic ties between the U.S. and the kingdom, despite challenges and uncertainties stemming from Trump’s tariff and trade policies that have impacted various industries.
Coca-Cola’s recently appointed CEO, James Quincey, made the trip to underscore his consumer-facing company’s interests in the middle of the increasing administration-led tariff wars. His presence further highlighted the wide-ranging interests of American businesses represented there. Additionally, IBM’s Krishna noted their commitment to investing $150 billion in U.S. jobs over the next five years, demonstrating a focus on domestic production amid global uncertainties.
Trump’s talks haven’t just been about bringing back old industries, but about breakthrough technologies. The latest application Elon Musk recently revealed should be particularly thrilling—Saudi Arabia has cleared SpaceX’s Starlink satellites for landing. These satellites are now being used in aviation and maritime applications throughout the region. This announcement is huge progress toward connecting the dots and building the digital infrastructure across all of Saudi Arabia.
As Trump continues his tour, his presence alongside influential figures such as BlackRock’s Larry Fink, who was seen greeting the Saudi Crown Prince, points to a concerted effort to reinforce alliances with major financial institutions and corporations.
Since taking office, Trump has observed a decline in regulatory challenges faced by Musk’s companies, fostering an environment conducive to growth and innovation. This has uniquely positioned firms to pivot and flourish under intense external pressures to innovate now more than ever.
Even Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, said he has changed his mind about Trump’s leadership style.
“Watching @potus more carefully recently has really changed my perspective on him.” – Sam Altman
The ongoing Middle East tour serves as a platform for Trump to engage with key business leaders and foster partnerships that could reshape various industries. Under Trump’s agenda, the U.S. seeks to deepen economic ties and fuel technology and innovation. Not just Colombia, but regional and global markets stand to lose out without improved engagement.