Trump set to arrive in Saudi Arabia in major Middle East trip after hailing China relations ‘reset’: Live updates

The streets of Riyadh are lined with American and Saudi flags and there is a noticable security presence as Saudi Arabia prepares for President Donald Trump’s imminent arrival.

At a “Media Oasis” set up for journalists, giant video screens showed off Saudi construction projects like its futuristic NEOM city and its hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup. A mobile McDonald’s sat in the parking lot, still shuttered.

Prince Turki al-Faisal, who led Saudi intelligence for more than two decades and served as ambassador to the U.S. and Britain, wrote in the English-language Arab News newspaper to Trump that “our doors and hearts are open to you.”

Donald Trump is set to accept a $400m Boeing 747-8 jet from the Qatari royal family, describing it as a “great gesture from Qatar” amid mounting ethical and national security concerns.

The plane, which he toured in February, has been parked at San Antonio International Airport since 3 April.

Justifying the decision, Trump told reporters: “I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I mean, I could be a stupid person saying: ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane’.”

President Trump said on Monday that the European Union is “in many ways nastier than China” after he announced a “total reset” with relations with China over tariffs.“We have all the cards,” he said.

He also claimed his new drug pricing order would shift costs. “Europeans will have to pay more for health care, and we’re going to have to pay less.”

On China, Trump confirmed he’d likely speak with Xi Jinping soon after a 90-day tariff reduction deal was reached in Switzerland, though tariffs on autos, steel, aluminum, and possibly drugs remain.

He said the talks would be good for “unification and peace”.

While in Riyadh, Donald Trump is expected to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package reportedly worth more than $100bn, which could include advanced military equipment like C-130 transport aircraft.

The US and its Gulf allies are expected to announce massive investment deals, possibly worth trillions of dollars.

Saudi Arabia has already pledged $600bn in US investments over the next four years, but Trump has said he plans to ask for a full trillion.

Top business leaders — including Elon Musk, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, and Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser — will be part of the delegation.

Trump will be accompanied by Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Donald Trump has accepted a free $400m Boeing 747 from Qatar, stating it will be donated to his future presidential library, not used during or after his presidency.

However, critics warn this move raises serious ethical, legal, and security concerns, as it’s unprecedented for a US president to accept such a costly gift from a foreign government.

Despite Trump’s reassurances, backlash has come from Democrats and even some of his supporters. The issue is expected to follow him as he visits the Middle East, including Qatar.

“This is unprecedented,” said Jessica Levinson, a constitutional law expert at Loyola Law School. “We just haven’t tested these boundaries before.”

After the president abruptly fired Carla Hayden, the Barack Obama-appointed Librarian of Congress, the agency has become the newest target of the White House’s efforts to bring every part of government under the thumb of Trump and his team. Though the Library of Congress is part of the Legislative Branch, its director is appointed by the president, with Senate confirmation.

On Monday, Trump reportedly selected Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to serve as the acting agency director. But employees at the agency, seeking guidance from Congress, refused entry to two other Department of Justice officials tapped for supporting roles at the Library of Congress early Monday morning.

The “stand-off,” as it was described by The New York Times, involved Associate Deputy Attorney General Paul Perkins, who was appointed to serve as acting director of the US Copyright Office, and Brian Nieves, who was set to be acting deputy librarian under Blanche.

Their entry was reportedly refused by the agency’s general counsel and staffers, who called U.S. Capitol Police to defuse the situation. But Nieves and Perkins left the building before police arrived, according to reports, and a statement from a U.S. Capitol Police spokesperson confirmed that officers were not involved in denying anyone entry or escorting anyone from the building.

A U.S.-led ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, and a renewed push to force Russia to end attacks on Ukraine, add to Trump’s quest for recognition on the world stage as the peacemaker president, writes Oliver O’Connell:

The United States and China have struck a deal to slash tariffs by 115 per cent for at least 90 days as both countries seek to end the trade war.

Mr Trump said that the US had achieved a “total reset” in relations with China.

“A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to. A total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner,” Mr Trump wrote.

“We want to see, for the good of both China and the US, an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!”

China’s state-run news agency Xinhua described Saturday’s meetings as “an important step toward resolving the dispute,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh this morning as part of a landmark visit to three Gulf states this week.

Mr Trump will meet the country’s de facto leader, crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, and is expected to attend a summit of Gulf leaders in the city on Wednesday before travelling to Qatar.