Democracy Dies in Darkness

In Mideast, Trump plans to focus on business deals, not geopolitics

The trip is expected to focus primarily on cementing trade ties. On the heels of Trump Organization business deals in the region, it also showcases the blurring of Trump’s private business ventures with foreign policy.

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President Donald Trump welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House on Tuesday. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post)

President Donald Trump plans to leave Monday for a four-day trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, a mission that is expected to focus heavily on business deals and new investments from the oil-rich region.

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The swing through deep-pocketed Middle East monarchies, Trump’s first major international travel of his second term, is a marker of the president’s priorities and another sign of his intention to de-emphasize the traditional U.S. allies that typically serve as the first foreign destinations for new presidents. It also reflects his affection for the region, its wealth, and the pageantry that the host countries plan to roll out for him.

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