6 d. ago Trump news at a glance: Gulf deals in the spotlight as experts warn receipt of overseas gifts ‘unprecedented’

Experts warn the message being sent by the White House is that American foreign policy is for sale. Key US politics stories from Saturday 17 May at a glanceWith Donald Trump’s headline-making tour of the Gulf region now over, focus has now fallen on the deals made during the trip – for US companies, and for the president himself.Former White House lawyers, diplomatic protocol officers and foreign affairs experts have told the Guardian Donald Trump’s receipt of overseas gifts and targeted investments are “unprecedented” as the White House remakes US foreign policy under a pay-for-access code that eclipses past administrations. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Iran's Supreme leader calls Donald Trump a liar and says 'we do not fear any threat' despite US President's call for airstrikes if nuclear deal is not agreed

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Donald Trump on Saturday of lying when the US president said during his Gulf tour this week that he wanted peace in the region.

Politics

6 d. ago UN chief ‘alarmed’ as Israel launches major ground offensive in Gaza – Middle East crisis live

United Nations secretary general António Guterres called on Saturday for a permanent and immediate ceasefire Israel launches major offensive in GazaAn Iraqi political official, speaking to the Associated Press (AP) on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment, said that Iran’s al-Quds force commander Esmail Ghaani had paid a visit to Baghdad prior to the Arab League summit and “conveyed messages of support for the Iranian-American negotiations” for a nuclear deal and a demand for the lifting of crippling sanctions on Iran.The Arab League is meeting in Baghdad on Saturday to discuss Gaza and other regional crises, but some leaders are expected to miss the talks that come straight after US president Donald Trump’s Gulf tour. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza overnight as UN human rights chief warns of ‘ethnic cleansing’ – Middle East crisis live

UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Türk says ‘we must stop the clock on this madness’Israel launches major offensive in GazaAn Iraqi political official, speaking to the Associated Press (AP) on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment, said that Iran’s al-Quds force commander Esmail Ghaani had paid a visit to Baghdad prior to the Arab League summit and “conveyed messages of support for the Iranian-American negotiations” for a nuclear deal and a demand for the lifting of crippling sanctions on Iran.The Arab League is meeting in Baghdad on Saturday to discuss Gaza and other regional crises, but some leaders are expected to miss the talks that come straight after US president Donald Trump’s Gulf tour. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago US supreme court upholds block on Trump deportations under Alien Enemies Act as judge questions Ábrego García case – live

Justices block Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants; judge frustrated by DoJ’s failure to detail efforts to return wrongly deported manSupreme court blocks Trump bid to resume deportations under 1798 lawAlso on Iran, AFP reports that Trump said earlier that Tehran should make a quick decision on an American proposal for a nuclear deal or “something bad will happen”.Speaking in Abu Dhabi as he finished his Gulf tour, Trump said his administration had handed Iran a proposal for a agreement, adding that “they know they have to move quickly or something bad is going to happen”. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Republican fiscal hardliners block key vote for Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ – live

In a major setback for Trump’s sweeping tax agenda, five Republicans stood in the way of passing the bill from advancing toward a full House vote next weekAlso on Iran, AFP reports that Trump said earlier that Tehran should make a quick decision on an American proposal for a nuclear deal or “something bad will happen”.Speaking in Abu Dhabi as he finished his Gulf tour, Trump said his administration had handed Iran a proposal for a agreement, adding that “they know they have to move quickly or something bad is going to happen”. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Trump claims ‘8647’ photo from former FBI director James Comey was call to assassinate him – US politics live

US president claims ‘a child would know’ what that slogan means as US Secret Service investigates now-deleted photo of seashells posted on InstagramAlso on Iran, AFP reports that Trump said earlier that Tehran should make a quick decision on an American proposal for a nuclear deal or “something bad will happen”.Speaking in Abu Dhabi as he finished his Gulf tour, Trump said his administration had handed Iran a proposal for a agreement, adding that “they know they have to move quickly or something bad is going to happen”. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Trump says people in Gaza are starving and US will take care of situation

Intense Israeli airstrikes continue to hit Gaza as US president completes final day of Gulf tour in Abu DhabiMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has said people are starving in Gaza and the US would have the situation in the territory “taken care of”. Gaza has suffered a further wave of intense Israeli airstrikes overnight.On the final day of his Gulf tour, the US president told reporters in Abu Dhabi: “We’re looking at Gaza. And we’re going to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving.” Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Middle East crisis live: ‘a lot of people are starving’ in Gaza, says Trump, as Israeli strikes kill dozens

Widespread attacks across northern Gaza with survivors warning that people are trapped under the rubbleIsraeli airstrikes kill at least 80 as Trump talks of turning Gaza into ‘freedom zone’Donald Trump on Friday said the United States would have the situation in Gaza “taken care of”, telling reporters that people were starving in the besieged Palestinian territory.According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the US president told reporters during the final leg of his Gulf tour:We’re looking at Gaza. And we’re going to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving.Missing this historic opportunity would be a resounding failure that will be remembered in infamy for ever. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Uefa accuses Infantino of pursuing ‘private interests’ on Trump’s Gulf tour

Fifa boss arrives late at congress from US president’s tripEurope delegates walk out in protest at schedule changesUefa has accused the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, of pursuing “private political interests” ahead of his responsibilities to football. The shock intervention from European football’s governing body came after several national delegates walked out on the annual Fifa congress earlier on Thursday.The delegates, who included the president of Uefa, Alexander Ceferin, and the chair of the Football Association, Debbie Hewitt, did so in protest at alterations to the meeting’s schedule, caused by Infantino arriving late to proceedings after accompanying Donald Trump on a tour of Gulf states. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Uefa accuses Infantino of pursuing ‘private interests’ on Trump’s tour

Fifa president arrives late at congress after Gulf tripEurope delegates walk out in protest at schedule changesUefa has accused the Fifa ­president, Gianni Infantino, of pursuing ­“private political interests” ahead of his responsibilities to football. The shock intervention from European football’s governing body came after several national delegates walked out on the annual Fifa congress earlier on Thursday.The delegates, who included the president of Uefa, Aleksander Ceferin, and the chair of the Football Association, Debbie Hewitt, did so in protest at alterations to the meeting’s schedule, caused by Infantino arriving late to proceedings after accompanying Donald Trump on a tour of Gulf states. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Uefa accuses Gianni Infantino of putting ‘private political interests’ before game after Saudi trip with Donald Trump

Fifa president Gianni Infantino was delayed arriving at the body’s annual Congress after joining US President Trump on his tour of the Middle East

Politics

9 d. ago The Guardian view on Trump’s conflicts of interest: the shadow of kleptocracy | Editorial

The dissolution of boundaries between the president’s official and commercial business is a leading symptom of democracy in crisisDonald Trump’s tour of Gulf nations this week is notionally state business. The president has discussed trade, investment and defence. But the boundary between statecraft and self-aggrandisement is blurred. To honour the US president, the government of Qatar has  offered him a Boeing 747 aircraft. This “flying palace”, worth around $400m, would serve as a substitute for Air Force One as Mr Trump’s personal jumbo.The US constitution explicitly forbids anyone holding a government office from accepting any “present, emolument, office or title” from foreign powers without congressional consent. White House lawyers, obedient to their master, say the Qatari jet doesn’t cross that line. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Donald Trump meets Syrian president in Saudi Arabia before Gulf tour resumes – US politics live

Donald Trump meets Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia after agreeing to lift sanctions on SyriaDonald Trump has said he wants to make a deal with Iran, but it can only go ahead if the regime stops “supporting terror” and abandons its nuclear plans.In related news, Iran’s deputy foreign minister will meet with European diplomats for nuclear talks in Istanbul on Friday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago US and Saudi Arabia sign $142bn arms deal as Trump to meet Syrian leader

White House touts deal made on first stop of US president’s four-day diplomatic tour to Gulf statesUS politics live – latest updatesThe United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a $142bn arms deal touted by the White House as the “largest defence sales agreement in history” in the first stop of Donald Trump’s four-day diplomatic tour to the Gulf states aimed at securing big deals and spotlighting the benefits of Trump’s transactional foreign policy.During the trip, the White House also confirmed that Trump would meet with Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former rebel commander whose forces helped overthrow Bashar al-Assad in 2024. The informal meeting will be the first face-to-face meeting between a US president and a Syrian leader since 2000, when Bill Clinton met with the late leader Hafez al-Assad in Geneva. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump speaks to Saudi forum after agreeing $600bn AI and defence deal

Commitments come as US president begins first leg of three-nation tour of oil-rich Gulf

Economics

1 week ago Donald Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia as he looks to seal huge deals for the US during Gulf tour

The trip marks the US president's first major visit abroad of his second term, with the White House saying he looked forward to a 'historic return' to the region.

Politics