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Fmr. U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Egypt Discusses Trump's Middle East Trip - Amanpour and Company PBS
Today Donald Trump landed in Saudi Arabia and was given a royal welcome by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It's the first stop on Trump's first major foreign trip since returning to office. After Riyadh, he'll go on to Gulf states Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Trump hopes to sign agreements worth $1 trillion as he prioritizes dealmaking with some of the world's richest countries and people.
Omitted from this Middle East trip, however, is Israel. On Monday, the U.S. went around Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to secure the release of Edan Alexander -- the last surviving American hostage -- from Gaza. This style of diplomacy appears to be part of a larger pattern, reflected in America's direct talks with Iran, indirect talks with Hamas, and a ceasefire deal made with the Houthis in Yemen. Joining the show to assess all this is Daniel Kurtzer, former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt and Israel. - Originally aired on May 13, 2025.