President Donald Trump arrived yesterday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, kicking off a four-day tour across the Gulf region that also includes stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Notably, Trump was greeted on the tarmac by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), a gesture that stands in sharp contrast to the cooler reception President Biden received on his visit.

Source: X

But this warm welcome isn’t just about diplomacy…

The president’s trip to Saudi Arabia is all about business, big-dollar deals and reasserting America’s influence in the Middle East.

The trip’s centerpiece is a slew of economic and defense deals, including what Trump’s team calls the “largest defense sales agreement in history” — a $600-billion package covering everything from military hardware to tech investments.

Trump also touted a $142-billion arms deal plus a Saudi pledge to invest hundreds of billions in the U.S. economy.

Your Rundown for Wednesday, May 14, 2025...

America First, Saudi Style

Trump is using the trip to draw a sharp contrast with previous administrations.

For instance, he’s praised Saudi Arabia as a “modern miracle the Arabian way,” dismissing what he calls failed “nation-building” efforts by Western leaders.

Instead, he’s positioning the U.S.-Saudi partnership as a bedrock of security and prosperity, emphasizing that the region’s transformation is being driven by local leadership-not foreign intervention.

While Trump’s focus is on business, the trip also has major strategic implications:

• The U.S. is reaffirming its role as the Gulf’s main security ally, even as it faces competition from China and Russia.

• Trump and MbS are also discussing regional flashpoints like Iran, the war in Gaza and oil prices.

But Trump’s priority is making deals, not getting bogged down in endless diplomatic disputes.

One example? AviLease, an aircraft leasing firm owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has placed its first direct order with Boeing for up to 30 Boeing 737 MAX jets.

The order was announced during Trump’s visit, with Boeing’s CEO Kelly Ortberg joining a U.S. delegation to secure major investments and business deals.

The takeaway is clear: Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia is less about traditional diplomacy and more about deal-making, boosting business and strengthening personal and national ties with the Gulf’s power players.

For Trump, it’s a return to the art of the deal on the world stage, with all the spectacle and high-stakes negotiations that come with it.

Market Rundown for Wednesday, May 14, 2025

S&P 500 futures are up 0.25% to 5,920.

Oil is down 1.20% to $62.90 for a barrel of WTI.

Gold’s down about 1% to $3,218.80 per ounce.

And Bitcoin is down 0.60% to $104,000.