President Trump wraps Middle East trip with major investments, Diplomatic pushes, and a legal battle at home

President Trump concluded his high-profile trip to the Middle East this morning.

May 16, 2025

Keenan Gibson,

(NBC)- President Trump concluded his high-profile trip to the Middle East this morning with a symbolic visit to an interfaith complex in the United Arab Emirates, which houses a mosque, church, and synagogue. The stop marked the end of a week-long tour through three wealthy Gulf states, filled with billion-dollar deals and bold diplomatic moves.

In a significant announcement during the visit, the UAE’s president pledged to invest $1.4 trillion over the next decade into U.S. industries—including energy and artificial intelligence.

“We will work very hard to deserve it,” said President Trump. “I have absolutely no doubt that the relationship will only get bigger and better.”

The trip also focused heavily on diplomacy. President Trump pushed Iran to negotiate an end to its nuclear ambitions. “Iran has sort of agreed to the terms—they’re not going to make, I call it in a friendly way, nuclear dust,” he remarked.

In addition, Trump agreed to lift sanctions on Syria, while urging President Bashar al-Assad to normalize relations with Israel. He also weighed in on efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“Nothing’s gonna happen until Putin and I get together,” Trump said.

Back in the United States, the president returns as the Supreme Court takes up a major case that could reshape the limits of judicial authority—and immigration law. Justices heard arguments Thursday on whether a single federal judge should be able to block executive orders nationwide, something that has happened nearly 40 times this term.

At the heart of the case is Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants. While the Court’s conservative majority seemed receptive to limiting nationwide injunctions, justices appeared skeptical about overturning birthright citizenship, which is protected by the Constitution’s 14th Amendment.