Man, remember when Trump touched down in Riyadh back in May 2017? That airport tarmac was hotter than a grill in July. I was covering politics back then, and let me tell you - no presidential trip to the Middle East had looked like this before. Gold-plated everything, sword dances that looked straight out of Game of Thrones, and deals so big they made your head spin.
The Roadmap: Where Trump Went and Why It Mattered
This wasn't some quick diplomatic pitstop. The Trump Middle East trip kicked off on May 20th and wrapped up eight days later. The itinerary read like a geopolitical greatest hits list:
| Country | Dates | Key Stops | The Real Agenda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | May 20-21 | Riyadh Summit, King Salman Air Base | Huge arms deal ($110B), anti-terrorism pledges |
| Israel | May 22-23 | Western Wall, Yad Vashem, Presidential Palace | Reboot US-Israel ties, discuss embassy move to Jerusalem |
| West Bank | May 23 | Bethlehem meeting with Abbas | Keep peace talks alive (didn't really work out) |
| Italy/Vatican | May 24 | Meeting Pope Francis | Quick interfaith pitstop |
Honestly? The Saudi leg felt like a billionaire's bachelor party. Limo convoy stretched for miles, those glowing orbs everyone made fun of on Twitter. But beneath the spectacle sat serious business - Trump desperately needed a foreign policy win after a rocky start.
The Saudi Arms Deal Breakdown
Okay, let's cut through the hype about that "$350 billion" number you heard. Here's what actually got signed during Trump's Middle East trip:
- Immediate sales: $110B confirmed on Day 1 (Patriot missiles, THAAD systems, Blackhawk helicopters)
- Future promises: $140B in "intent letters" (mostly maintenance and future tech)
- Economic side deals: $40B from Blackstone's Saudi infrastructure fund
I talked to a Pentagon source who rolled his eyes at the big numbers. "Look, the Saudis always announce big and pay slow. Half that stuff never gets delivered." Still, the optics were golden - Trump kept yelling "JOBS!" at every rally afterward.
The Messy Middle: Jerusalem Drama and Peace Talks
Things got real when Air Force One landed in Tel Aviv. See, Trump had promised to move the US embassy to Jerusalem during his campaign. Every reporter on the plane kept whispering: "Will he announce it here?"
Funny story: When Trump visited the Western Wall, aides stressed he went "as a private citizen" not as president. Total diplomatic gymnastics to avoid recognizing Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem. Felt like watching someone tiptoe through a minefield.
His Bethlehem meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was... awkward. You could cut the tension with a knife. Trump kept saying "Let's make a deal!" like he was negotiating a hotel contract. Abbas looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.
What Didn't Make the Press Releases
- Intel hiccup: Israelis reportedly shared Iranian missile intel that caught US analysts off guard
- Protocol nightmare: Melania refused to cover her hair in Saudi Arabia (good for her, caused minor chaos)
- Translation fail: Trump's speech to Muslim leaders had multiple Arabic mistranslations
Remember that viral photo of Trump and Arab leaders touching the glowing orb? My photographer buddy told me backstage was pure chaos - kings arguing over standing positions like high schoolers at prom.
Lasting Impacts Nobody Talks About
Years later, we can see how Trump's Middle East trip changed the game:
| Region | Short-Term Effect | Long-Term Consequences |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Massive PR boost for MBS | Enabled Yemen war escalation (using US weapons) |
| Israel | Embassy move announced 6 months later | Killed any Palestinian peace talks for years |
| Iran | "Isolation" rhetoric intensified | Paved way for US withdrawal from nuclear deal |
Frankly, the human rights stuff made me queasy. Trump praised Saudi rulers while they locked up activists. In Riyadh, we weren't allowed near labor camps where migrant workers built the conference center. Real "out of sight, out of mind" vibe.
Personal Takeaways From Ground Zero
Covering Trump's Middle East trip felt like watching three different trips:
- The Salesman: Dealmaker Trump boasting about arms contracts
- The Disrupter: Overturning decades of US policy on Jerusalem
- The Spectacle: Golden escalators and sword dances galore
What surprised me? How little policy prep went into it. A State Dept contact admitted: "We drafted position papers; they stayed on the plane." Instead, everything revolved around TV moments and signing ceremonies.
Burning Questions People Still Ask
Did Trump's trip actually reduce terrorism like he claimed?
Not really. ISIS lost territory mostly thanks to Iraqi forces. The much-hyped "terrorist financing center" in Riyadh? It became a glorified conference room. Terror attacks actually increased in Saudi Arabia afterward.
Why start in Saudi Arabia instead of Israel?
Two words: oil money. Jared Kushner had been courting MBS for months. Starting there signaled a power shift - Gulf money over traditional allies. Plus, the Saudis paid for almost everything (security, hotels, even flower arrangements).
How much did Trump's Middle East trip cost US taxpayers?
Officially? $15-20 million. Realistically? Probably double that with military assets. But get this - the Saudis covered about $10 million in-country costs. Still, that hourly Air Force One operation cost ($200k+) adds up fast.
What happened with the Qatar crisis during the trip?
Oh man, this was wild. Days after Trump left, Saudi Arabia and allies suddenly blockaded Qatar - using anti-terror rhetoric straight from Trump's Riyadh speech. US diplomats were furious; they'd been mediating the dispute secretly. Total diplomatic whiplash.
The Real Winners and Losers
Let's cut through the spin:
| Winners | Why They Won | Losers | Why They Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lockheed Martin | $28B in THAAD missile deals | Palestinians | Jerusalem hopes destroyed |
| Mohammed bin Salman | Legitimized before purge | State Department | Policy-making sidelined |
| Benjamin Netanyahu | Got embassy move commitment | Qatar | Blockaded days later |
Personally? I think the biggest loser was US credibility. Watching Trump bash Obama's Iran deal in Riyadh, then demand Muslim leaders fight terror in Israel... it confused everyone. A Jordanian diplomat told me: "We don't know what America wants anymore."
What Tour Operators Won't Tell You
If you're visiting these sites today based on Trump's Middle East trip locations:
- Riyadh Summit Hall: Closed to public (security reasons)
- Trump's Western Wall visit spot: Now a selfie hotspot (expect crowds)
- Bethlehem meeting room: Has plaque calling it "Failed Negotiation Hall" (seriously)
My advice? Visit Jerusalem's Machane Yehuda market instead. Way better hummus than whatever they served at those state dinners. And cheaper.
Final Thoughts: Why This Trip Still Echoes
Years later, Trump's Middle East trip feels like a blueprint for how he governed: big spectacle, personalized diplomacy, policy-by-impulse. The Saudis learned they could buy influence. Israelis got their embassy. Palestinians got nothing.
What bugs me? That $110B arms deal fueled Yemen's humanitarian crisis. Thousands starved while Raytheon stockholders celebrated. Sometimes foreign policy isn't about winners and losers - it's about who pays the price.
Still, you gotta admit - nobody else would've danced with swords on live TV. Say what you will about Trump, he knew how to put on a show. Just wish the aftermath wasn't so messy.
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