Trump admin live updates: Trump lands in Saudi Arabia for Middle East trip

Trump admin live updates: Trump lands in Saudi Arabia for Middle East trip

The president is expected to visit three Gulf nations across four days.

2:49

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ByKevin Shalvey, Meredith Deliso, and Sarah Beth Hensley

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 4:16 PM +06

President Donald Trump landed in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to begin an official visit to the Middle East, a major international trip during which he and his diplomats will continue pushing for peace between Russia and Ukraine and in the Gaza Strip.

The U.S. and China issued a joint statement on Monday announcing an agreement to cut reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, a move that U.S. markets appeared to favor. Stock futures climbed on the news.

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Here's how the news is developing.

45 minutes ago

Musk among business leaders with Trump in Saudi Arabia

When President Donald Trump arrives at the Royal Palace in Riyadh on Tuesday, he will attend a lunch with Saudi and U.S. delegations and the heads of major businesses -- including Elon Musk.

People walk around during the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum event in Riyadh on May 13, 2025.

Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty Images

Musk leads several companies, including SpaceX, X and Tesla, where he serves as chief executive. He's also been a leader of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy are also among the significant names on the guest list

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Freed Gaza hostage speaks with Trump by phone

Special envoy Steve Witkoff posted photos of his meeting with freed U.S.-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander on his X account on Tuesday morning, saying they "had the opportunity" to speak with President Donald Trump.

Alexander's family released a statement shortly after his release from captivity on Monday, saying the New Jersey native is planning to travel to Washington, D.C. to meet Trump at the White House later this month.

Alexander -- a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces -- was seized by Hamas from his base near the Gaza frontier during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

-ABC News' Justin Ryan Gomez, Jordana Miller and Joe Simonetti

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Trump lands in Saudi Arabia

President Donald Trump landed at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday morning to begin his Middle East tour.

President Donald Trump speaks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an arrival ceremony at the Royal Terminal of King Khalid International...Show more

Alex Brandon/AP

Saudi fighter jets escorted Air Force One as it came in to land. A 21-gun salute greeted Trump as he walked down the steps of Air Force One, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcoming the president on a purple carpet.

Trump is expected to head to the Royal Court for an arrival ceremony with the crown prince followed by a series of meetings, expected to include the signing of a new bilateral agreement.

Trump will then visit the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, where he will give remarks and take a tour of exhibit booth