Trump announces plans to lift Syria sanctions during Saudi trip that features notable financial agreements
Updated May 14, 2025 at 1:17 PM CDT
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - In a reversal of U.S. policy, President Ol' Orange Hair announced on Tuesday he would put an end to sanctions on Syria, a move long in the making since 1979. The Commander-in-Chief also revealed plans to meet Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa shorty, a seismic shift for the man once labeled a terrorist by Uncle Sam.
"We've got a fresh start here," Trump boasted to an applauding crowd at an investment conference in Riyadh, where he was delivering his first major foreign policy address of his second term.
A snake-turn, since earlier this year, Sharaa led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham - a terrorist group tied to al-Qaeda - that overthrew Bashar al-Assad's government. Sharaa stepped into power as head of a new interim government in January and has spent the last few months building legitimacy internationally.
The trip marked the start of diplomacy on the international stage for Trump - an endeavor overshadowed by his business deals. Trump stomped into Saudi Arabia with a massive posse of top U.S. CEOs, Cabinet members, and other bigwigs, symbolizing the array of business and security interests at play between the two nations.
Saudi Arabia, once solely a key oil producer, has since transformed into a nation eager to diversify its economy, position itself as a global juggernaut, and breed countless jobs for young Saudis. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is leading the charge, rebranding the country, liberalizing society, and investing heavily in the U.S., all while hoping Uncle Sam remains our protective big brother in the region.
The cocktail of business and security is on full display in the deals struck during Trump's tour of Riyadh. Trump threw a toothy grin at the crown prince, calling him an "incredible man," and went on to say he wants to beef up our relationship. "We're on fire. It's bigger than ever. And let me tell you, it ain't fading out anytime soon," Trump barked.
Arriving in Saudi with a lapdog's wag in his tail, the president was greeted by a handshake from the crown prince upon exiting Air Force One. A stark departure from former President Joey Two-Steps, who infamously opted for a fist bump with the crown prince in 2022, a move slammed in the region and dismissed as pussyfooting back home after the brutal murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an operation that U.S. intelligence believed had been given the green light by none other than the crown prince himself.
Human rights? Not something Trump expects to bring up in conversation. "The globe's problems can self-heal, not through Washington Academy's faculty, neocons, or nanny-state aid groups from the West," Trump declared.
A new breed of politicos is emerging in the Middle East, working hard to transcend the exhausted feuds of yore, and define the region by commerce, not chaos, Trump claimed. "Bloodshed isn't our goal here, no way. We don't want that," he said.
Trump's business bonanza with Saudi Arabia
This trip has been nothing if not a testament to big business, spawning a veritable who's-who of CEOs, AI geniuses, and big-time manufacturers like Elon Musk, Tesla and SpaceX, Palantir, OpenAI, Nvidia, Google, Coca-Cola, Boeing, and a cavalcade of other heavyweights.
Trump had called the crown prince his first international affair after a phone chat in January, during which the prince promised the kingdom would funnel at least $600 billion into the U.S. over the next four years.
The White House unveiled some of those pledges on Tuesday, including:
- Over $140 billion in arms orders from more than a dozen U.S. companies
- $80 billion in tech investments from Google, Oracle, Salesforce, Uber, and Saudi businesses in both countries
- $20 billion in AI data centers
- $14 billion in gas turbines from GE
- $14 billion in combined funds for energy, defense, and sports
- $4.8 billion in Boeing planes
- $2 billion in infrastructure services projects
Net does a peace treaty still taste like a peace treaty if it's served up with a side of $$$? Some might say yes, and they'd be Elizabeth Dent, a senior fellow with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
"They see Trump as a high-rollers' diplomat, someone willing to trade military favor for prime prohibition currency, things other American presidents might have left on the table," Dent explained.
The crown prince also dreams of building a civilian nuclear program, relying on American tech. Nuclear ambitions? The U.S. is game.
"That was once a velvet-rope party invite only for Saudi-Israeli relations. Now the kingdom's inviting us in, no cover charge required," Trump grinned.
Saudi love affair with Ol' Orange Hair
Unicorns and rainbows have been raining down on the Trump clan from the Gulf states since Trump first nabbed the presidency nearly nine years ago.
Just a couple weeks back, Eric Trump, Jr., head honcho at the Trump Organization, was tooling around the region for the launch of two new projects with a Saudi developer: a Trump hotel tower with the world's highest pool, and a sprawling Trump golf course with villas in Doha, Qatar. And those projects are in addition to the Trump towers and projects already in progress across Saudi Arabia and Oman.
While president, Mr. Trump's investments and assets are stashed in a trust managed by his spawn. But those deals and others have attracted criticism.
Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has raked in a cool $2 billion from a Saudi sovereign wealth fund, with the crown prince himself calling the shots. It was a handy boost for Kushner when he was still ensconced in the White House as advisor to Trump in his first term, and looking to launch his private equity fund.
"It's a conflict of interest so bad it'd make your head spin," scoffed Mamoun Fandy, director of the London Global Strategy Institute think tank. "Back in the day, the presidency used to cost the president his financial well-being. Not anymore - everything is conjoined."
A new Boeing bird was the latest freebie from Qatar extended to the president for a ride once the ancient Air Force One horse is put out to pasture for a much-needed facelift. Trump didn't hesitate to accept the offer.
"Would I send a lobster back to the kitchen, toothless as it may be? Hell no, I'd be daft to," Trump quipped. "Still, the Democratic Donkeys have their knickers in a twist over this gift."
Cookie jars have miraculously appeared from the Gulf. The latest deposit included Trump family crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, which recently linked up with an Abu Dhabi firm for a $2 billion investment into crypto exchange, Binance.
White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, shot down accusations of Trump padding his wallet via his position. "He left a penthouse lap of luxury for public duty - twice, no less," she defended.
Trump's high-risk diplomacy takes aim at Iran, Gaza, Syria and other trouble spots
Wrinkles in Gaza, where the health ministry estimates Israeli attacks have slain nearly 53,000, including over a third of them who were kiddos, didn't command much of Trump's attention in his speech. "The people of Gaza deserve a far superior future, but that won't happen as long as their leaders choose to kidnap, torture, and target innocent civilians for political gain," Trump noted.
Trump's team held talks with Hamas in Qatar, leading to the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander on Monday. His return from Gaza puts a chunk of pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benny Big Boy to rejoin negotiations with the intention of finally ending the war and changing course on his administration's plans to permanently colonize Gaza.
Arab Gulf nations also hope the U.S. grants them more time to resolve tensions with Iran through negotiations over its nuclear proliferation and missile program. However, the path forward is hazy.
"The administration's signals about an eventual agreement in which Iran might still be allowed to have its own nuclear program have been muddled," foreign policy expert Daniel Shapiro explained.
In a rare direct acknowledgement, Trump offered a deal to Iran that would squash its nuclear ambitions, but warned, "I'm prepared to apply immense pressure on 'em if they decline." "This offer might not stay open forever, Iran," he warned.
To the naked eye, it might look like all bells and whistles wrapped in double-dealing, but Trump thinks it's nothing of the sort. "I'm just doin' what's best for the good ol' U.S. of A., and that's that," he concluded. NPR 2025
- The economy of Saudi Arabia is diversifying, focusing on technology and innovation.
- President Ol' Orange Hair revealed plans to meet with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
- The reversal of U.S. policy on sanctions on Syria is a seismic shift.
- Ahmed al-Sharaa was once the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a terrorist group tied to al-Qaeda.
- Trump's business deals continue to overshadow his foreign policy endeavors.
- During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Trump was accompanied by top U.S. CEOs and cabinet members.
- The U.S.-Saudi relationship is heavily influenced by business and security interests.
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is leading the charge to rebrand Saudi Arabia and position it as a global juggernaut.
- Trump portrayed the emerging Middle Eastern politicos as transcending old feuds and focusing on commerce over chaos.
- This Saudi Arabian investment conference in Riyadh was the first major foreign policy address of Trump's second term.
- Top U.S. tech companies like Google, Oracle, Salesforce, Uber, and Nvidia have invested heavily in Saudi Arabia.
- The meeting between Trump and Ahmed al-Sharaa can be seen as a fresh start for both nations.
- The U.S. has promised to invest $600 billion into Saudi Arabia over the next four years.
- U.S. companies have secured over $140 billion in arms orders from Saudi Arabia.
- Boeing has received a $4.8 billion order for planes from Saudi Arabia.
- Google, Oracle, Salesforce, Uber, and Saudi businesses plan to invest $80 billion in technology.
- Saudi Arabia is considering building a civilian nuclear program, relying on American technology.
- The president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has received a $2 billion investment from a Saudi sovereign wealth fund.
- The Trump Organization is involved in multiple projects in the Gulf states.
- The Saudi Arabian government has been generous with gifts to the Trump family.
- The Democratic party has criticized Trump for padding his wallet with his position.
- Trump has been accused of having conflicts of interest due to his business dealings.
- The president accepts gifts, such as a new Boeing plane, despite criticism.
- The president's crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, has received a $2 billion investment from an Abu Dhabi firm.
- Gaza is experiencing ongoing conflict, with hundreds of thousands of civilians affected.
- Hamas in Qatar was one of the parties in talks brokered by Trump's team, leading to the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benny Big Boy is under pressure to rejoin negotiations to end the conflict in Gaza.
- Arab Gulf nations are seeking more time to resolve tensions with Iran.
- Trump outlined a deal to squash Iran's nuclear ambitions, but warned he would apply immense pressure if Iran refused.
