President Donald Trump arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday to a royal-purple-carpet rollout and a motorcade ride ensconced by a calvary of Arabian horses – a daylong kickoff to the first major international trip of his second term.

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.

A series of side deals by the U.S. administration is raising questions about how closely in sync the allies are over major challenges in the region.

The Trump family’s business ties to the Middle East have more than tripled since the president’s first term in office, a CNN a tally of the deals has found – including a slew of new projects announced since he reclaimed the White House.

Investors eye more trade deals, updates from President Trump’s trip to the Middle East and fresh consumer inflation data after U.S. stocks soared Monday as investors celebrated major progress on U.S.-China trade talks.

The billionaire newspaper owner is getting closer to the president.

Witkoff has embraced untraditional tactics and defied some conservatives as the administration seeks quick wins in the Middle East. Now his strategy is being put to the test.

Hamas says it will release an American-Israeli hostage held in Gaza later in the day. The Palestinian militant group said Edan Alexander would be freed on Monday as a goodwill gesture to the Trump administration.