President Donald Trump concluded his Middle Eastern tour in the United Arab Emirates on Friday with a business leaders’ breakfast and a visit to an interfaith center dedicated to the Abraham Accords. These accords facilitated the UAE and certain other Middle Eastern countries recognizing Israel. After his visit to the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, Trump departed the city amid an escalation of violence in the West Bank and Gaza, with Israeli airstrikes having caused significant casualties.
During the tour, tensions heightened in the region as Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed over 100 people in Gaza on the same day, escalating the ongoing conflict. The conflict has resulted in more than 130 deaths in the preceding days. Meanwhile, Israel accused a UN aid chief of politically charging the term ‘genocide’ against it amidst the conflict in Gaza. Israel’s ambassador to the UN accused the humanitarian chief, who had urged the Security Council to act decisively to prevent genocide, of making baseless accusations.
In Washington, preparations are underway for a military parade involving 25 M1 Abrams tanks. To mitigate street damage, the Army plans to place large metal plates at critical spots along the parade route, addressing concerns from President Trump’s previous term about street wear.
Elsewhere, a humanities federation and a state council have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn funding cuts by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency and the National Endowment for the Humanities. They argue that this exceeds their authority by terminating Congress-mandated funding.
Within the United States, President Trump faced a setback when House conservatives blocked his substantial tax break package. Intended to introduce major fiscal changes, the Republicans’ Budget Committee failed to pass it, as some GOP members demanded further revisions.
Internationally, Israel’s military announced strikes on two Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen, alleging these ports were used for weapons transfer. Meanwhile, Israeli concerns grow about potentially being sidelined in the changing geopolitical atmosphere of the Middle East, as evidenced by a historic meeting between Trump, Saudi Arabian, and Turkish leaders.
Political strategies in Washington continue to revolve around Trump’s presidency, with debate stirring over Joe Biden’s withdrawn decision in the last election. At an international level, European leaders showed alignment with Trump on dismissing Russia’s negotiation stance on ceasefire talks as unacceptable.
In media elsewhere, former FBI director James Comey was criticized by Trump for a social media post perceived as provocative. Tension arose over the post, which was later clarified by Comey as non-threatening, drawing further investigation by the Secret Service.
As Trump completed his Mideast trip, with significant engagements in the UAE, including a business forum and a tour of an interfaith complex, there were also notable economic developments. Etihad Airways announced the purchase of Boeing aircraft during Trump’s visit, showcasing burgeoning business relationships fostered under his administration. This follows a similar recent significant deal with Qatar Airways.
Back in the Middle East, the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza have continued, notwithstanding Trump’s visit aimed at promoting Middle Eastern diplomacy through forums such as the Abraham Accords. The situation remains volatile with increasing international attention and calls for diplomatic interventions to alleviate humanitarian crises.