President Donald J. Trump’s trip to the Middle East on May 13-16 comes on the heels of more than three months of whirlwind activity in US foreign policy where the region has been a higher priority than it was in the early months of the previous US administration.

Plus: Biden revelations ignite new Democratic divisions{beacon} PRESIDENT TRUMP on Tuesday pushed for a realignment between the U.S. and strategic partners in the Middle East on the first major

Mr Trump returned their affection. His nearly hour-long address was full of fulsome praise for Prince Muhammad and his father, King Salman (the latter was a curious omission from the schedule, raising questions about his health). He hailed America’s bond with Gulf states and spoke of a “golden age” in the Middle East.

In Saudi Arabia, the president denounced Western intervention and nation-building, garnering both praise and eye rolls.

There’s more to Donald Trump’s Middle East trip than billion-dollar contracts, parades of camels and a storm back home over Qatar’s offer to give the president a new Air Force One.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday that Washington is troubled by the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Previously, the US had restrictions on delivering advanced technology to the region as part of broader controls on the spread of US AI-related tech.

Click here to subscribe.When President Donald Trump met with Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the encounter went beyond the “hello” the White House had told reporters to expect.