Trump’s Gulf visit blurs business and state as $96B Boeing deal signed

Mace | 15th May 2025 | Uncategorised
Saudi,Arabia,Flag,Flutters,In,The,Clear,Sky.,Flying,In

Donald Trump’s Middle East visit yielded a $96 billion Boeing deal and over $1 trillion in wider economic commitments. But questions over a private jet gift and simultaneous Trump Organization ventures have reignited concerns about conflicts of interest, as diplomacy and personal business appear increasingly entangled in the former president’s foreign agenda.

President Donald Trump’s recent Middle East tour has resulted in significant economic agreements, notably a $96 billion deal between Qatar Airways and Boeing. The agreement includes the purchase of up to 210 aircraft, comprising 130 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 30 777X jets, with options for an additional 50 wide-body planes. This deal represents Boeing's largest-ever wide-body aircraft order and is expected to support approximately 154,000 U.S. jobs annually over the production and delivery period. In addition to the aviation deal, broader economic commitments between the U.S. and Qatar amount to $243.5 billion, encompassing sectors such as defense, energy, and technology. These agreements are part of a larger $1.2 trillion economic engagement plan aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and fostering long-term cooperation. However, the visit has not been without controversy. Reports indicate that Qatar has offered President Trump a luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft, valued at approximately $4...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



We need to talk about Kemi

Mace | October 5, 2026

In contrast to last year's Tory conference, Kemi Badenoch is coming out guns blazing, not the least when it comes to defence, says Flora Watkins

Markus Leutert, Corporate Affairs, PerkinElmer – “Focus on outcomes, rather than outputs”

Mace | September 29, 2026

Leutert's career has included moments close to politics, including time as a speechwriter, but he concluded that he can have more impact behind the scenes.

Leader in UK Public Affairs: Dr Michelle Howard, Senior Advisor for Defence and Space, Lexington Communications: “The future of public affairs is full of promise for the creative”

Mace | September 16, 2026

Lexington’s Michelle Howard explains how an unconventional career spanning opera, journalism, hydropower and defence led her into public affairs, why political instability rewards creativity and listening, and what

FGS Global acquires Washington government affairs agency

Mace | August 7, 2026

FGS Global has acquired Washington, DC-based government affairs firm Rich Feuer Anderson.

Kemi’s true blue purge, with help from Sir Philip May

William Cash | July 26, 2026

The news that former Home Secretary Sir Grant Shapps has failed to make the new Tory candidate list has put fear into dozens of former Conservative MPs. Whether

UK ‘global investor’ visa proposed by lobby group to bring back UK’s non-doms

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | April 23, 2026

New 'global investor visa' proposed by lobby group as UK struggles to attract the super-rich

London Elections latest polling: Green gains and Labour out

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | April 22, 2026

Latest polling from YouGov suggests major gains for Greens and Reform UK in the capital.

Greens win Gorton and Denton

Oliver Dean | February 27, 2026

The Green's victory reflects a changing mindset in British politics

Green Party leader gets new communications advisor

Oliver Dean | February 17, 2026

Polanski's new communications advisor shows that the Green Party leader is serious about his public image.

Trade body describes the Government’s new electric HGV plan as a ‘monumental challenge’

Oliver Dean | February 17, 2026

With only 1 in 70 new HGV's being electric, the government must assist with infrastructure investment says industry leader