President Trump on Tuesday held out Saudi Arabia as a model for a reimagined Middle East, using the first major foreign trip of his term to emphasize the promise of economic prosperity over instability in a region reeling from multiple wars.
Meanwhile, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and 18 other states filed two new lawsuits on Tuesday against the Trump administration, aiming to block “imminent” funding cuts to states that don’t help carry out federal immigration enforcement.
Here’s how the day unfolded.
Get 6 Months of Unlimited Access for $1Federal judge OKs use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans who are labeled gang members — 9:01 p.m.
Trump implores Iran to make deal over nuclear program — 8:15 p.m.
Federal grand jury indicts Wisconsin judge in immigration case, allowing charges to continue — 7:06 p.m.
What senators are saying as Schumer vows to hold up Justice Department nominees over Qatar plane — 6:54 p.m.
US-China deal to slash tariffs eases burden on cheap packages — 6:35 p.m.
How to impress a US president? Spin up a fighter jet escort for Air Force One. — 6:28 p.m.
Mexican security chief confirms cartel family members entered US in a deal with Trump administration — 6:27 p.m.
Federal judge OKs use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans who are labeled gang members — 6:22 p.m.
Palestinian UN ambassador welcomes Trump’s visit to region and hopes for ceasefire deal — 6:20 p.m.
MAGA allies criticize Trump’s plan to accept $400 million jet from Qatar as Air Force One: ‘I’m so disappointed’ — 5:49 p.m.

Overhauling Qatari plane as a secure flying White House would take years, leading Democrat says — 5:08 p.m.
20 Democratic attorneys general sue Trump administration over conditions placed on federal funds — 5:06 p.m.

Trump wants ‘the most impressive plane’ — 4:55 p.m.
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince gives Trump a lavish royal welcome — 4:50 p.m.
US Democratic senator praises Trump’s announcement that the US will move toward lifting sanctions on Syria — 4:45 p.m.
Did Trump help get Pete Rose reinstated? — 4:37 p.m.
Will Putin show for talks with Zelensky? A leading Senate Democrat bets not — 4:37 p.m.

Trump finishes his day in Riyadh at a state dinner — 4:19 p.m.
US Senator Lindsey Graham visits Turkey to meet with officials to ‘assess the situation in Syria’ — 4:17 p.m.
DOGE removed dozens of contracts from its list of savings after they were resurrected — 3:56 p.m.
Trump’s plan to accept free Air Force One replacement from Qatar raises ethical and security worries — 3:38 p.m.

Trump may be in Saudi Arabia, but he’s playing a starring role at Cannes’ opening — 3:26 p.m.
Trump administration announces $450 million in new Harvard funding cuts — 3:16 p.m.
20 Democratic attorneys general sue Trump administration over conditions placed on federal funds — 2:57 p.m.

Israel carries out strike on Gaza hospital — 2:40 p.m.
Parents of freed American-Israeli hostage say he told of difficulty in captivity — 2:24 p.m.
Iran state television barely mentions Trump’s visit — 2:19 p.m.

House Republicans look to help Trump strip tax-exempt status of nonprofits he says support terrorism — 2:14 p.m.
Trump’s final event in Riyadh will be at the birthplace of the first Saudi state — 1:55 p.m.
UN welcomes easing of US sanctions on Syria — 1:53 p.m.
Trump says he’ll ease sanctions on Syria — 1:41 p.m.
RFK Jr. says his kids are ‘Bernie fans’ as he praises Trump executive order aimed at cutting prescription drug costs — 1:31 p.m.

Trump is trying to find and exploit the leverage points for everyone — except those giving him gifts — 1:25 p.m.
Saudi King Salman absent so far from Trump state visit — 12:48 p.m.

Sirens sound in Israel — 12:43 p.m.
‘YMCA’ blares as Trump wraps his speech at Saudi investor conference — 12:42 p.m.

Trump says potential talks between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey ‘could produce some pretty good results’ — 12:36 p.m.
Trump says people of Gaza ‘deserve a much better future’ — 12:36 p.m.
Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and other CEOs join Trump at US-Saudi lunch — 12:32 p.m.

Here’s what Trump said about the Abraham Accords — 12:17 p.m.
Joining Abraham Accords would be a major policy shift for Saudi Arabia — 12:09 p.m.
Trump says he hopes Saudi Arabia will soon join the Abraham Accords and recognize Israel ‘in your own time’ — 12:03 p.m.
Trump denounces interventionist foreign policy — 12:01 p.m.

Trump says America is ‘rocking’ — 12:00 p.m.
Trump tells Saudis in speech that China had ‘agreed to open up to the US for trade’ — 11:57 a.m.
Trump calls Mohammed bin Salman an ‘incredible man’ — 11:46 a.m.

More on Trump’s call for a new nuclear deal with Iran — 11:44 a.m.
More on Trump and Syria — 11:42 a.m.
Claps, cheers and whistles for Trump and the Saudi crown prince — 11:40 a.m.
Trump pushes in Saudi Arabia speech for a new nuclear deal with Iran — 11:38 a.m.
Trump in Saudi Arabia speech to urge Iran toward a ‘new and a better path’ as he pushes for new nuclear deal — 11:33 a.m.
A White House take on at Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia — 11:29 a.m.

Before Trump’s speech, a pause for some real estate visions — 11:25 a.m.
Trump to meet with Syria’s Ahmad al-Sharaa, the former insurgent who led Assad’s overthrow — 11:24 a.m.
Musk warmed up the crowd for Trump and the crown prince — 11:20 a.m.

Trump to meet Wednesday with Syria’s Ahmad al-Sharaa, onetime insurgent who led overthrow of Assad, White House says— 11:19 a.m.
Hospital official says freed American-Israeli hostage appears ‘stable overall’ — 11:18 a.m.
Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince arrive at conference center — 11:15 a.m.

Senate Democratic leader say’s he’ll hold up Justice nominations until he gets answers on plane — 11:04 a.m.
Boeing announces large plane sale in Saudi Arabia during Trump trip — 11:03 a.m.
Republicans line up against Trump accepting Qatari 747 for Air Force One — 11:00 a.m.
- “It would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America. That would be ideal.” — Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley.
- “I don’t think it looks good or smells good.” — Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul
- “Regardless of how beautiful the plane may be, it opens a door and implies the President and US can be bought. If this were Biden, we would be furious.” — Trump’s first-term UN ambassador Nikki Haley.
Trump now says he won’t fly the Qatari 747 after his term ends — 10:57 a.m.

An air-conditioned ‘family’ picture — 10:30 a.m.
Cheaper gas prices a boon for Trump — 10:20 a.m.
Trump and Saudi crown prince finalize agreements between US and Saudi Arabia — 9:45 a.m.

Saudi businessman says Trump administration understands ‘reality’ of fossil fuels — 9:43 a.m.
Netanyahu says there is ‘no way’ Israel will halt its war in Gaza as Trump tours Mideast — 9:42 a.m.
FIFA’s Infantino reminds Americans what the world calls soccer — 8:58 a.m.
During Trump’s visit, Saudis say they are jumping into the AI race — 8:53 a.m.

US officials tell families of Israeli hostage they will accept nothing less than everyone’s return — 8:43 a.m.
Trump to visit the birthplace of the Saudi monarchy — 8:40 a.m.
Trump to stay at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh — 8:36 a.m.

JD Vance calls released American-Israeli hostage, credits Trump administration for his freedom — 8:29 a.m.
Trump says he and Saudi crown prince like each other “a lot” — 8:27 a.m.
Trump’s trip is a green light for businesses to return to Saudi Arabia — 8:25 a.m.

Freed American-Israeli hostage says he feels weak but is OK — 6:43 a.m.
Trump speaks with released Israeli-American hostage — 6:42 a.m.
Trump gets a horse escort to the Saudi palace — 6:40 a.m.
Trump’s Mideast envoy meets families of Israeli hostages — 5:35 a.m.
Trump is now at the Royal Court — 5:30 a.m.

As Trump dismantles the Education Department, families with civil rights complaints fear justice isn’t coming — 5:20 a.m.
China and US agree to slash tariffs, and online retailers get a reprieve — 4:42 a.m.
Trump starts his foreign trip with a crush of problems — and outsized certainty he has the answers — 4:09 a.m.
Saudi investment minister praises US relationship — 3:30 a.m.
Trump is expected to announce deals with the countries on his schedule — 3:26 a.m.
An airport greeting by Saudi crown prince is a rare honor for US presidents — 3:23 a.m.
Trump is greeted by Saudi crown prince on landing in Riyadh — 3:20 a.m.
