Trump’s 17th Week Back in Office Focuses on Middle East Diplomacy, China Trade Talks

President Donald Trump’s 17th week back in the Oval Office is centered around a high-stakes diplomatic push in the Middle East—his first major overseas trip of his second term—and renewed efforts by top administration officials to recalibrate trade relations with China.

"President Trump will return to the Middle East to re-emphasize his continued vision for a proud, prosperous, and successful region—where extremism is replaced with commerce and cultural exchange,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday. “This trip ultimately highlights how we stand on the brink of a golden age for both America and the Middle East, united by a shared vision of stability, opportunity, and mutual respect.”

The president departs Washington on Monday for a four-day tour that includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The visit comes amid renewed violence between Israel and Hamas, stalled nuclear talks with Iran, and reports that Trump is seeking to expand the Abraham Accords—a diplomatic initiative from his first term that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations.

Trump is also expected to visit U.S. military personnel stationed in Qatar and has teased a major announcement before departure. “We’re going to have a very, very big announcement to make—like as big as it gets,” he said last week. “It’s very positive… one of the most important announcements made in many years.”

While Trump looks to reinforce strategic ties in the Middle East, senior administration officials have been working behind the scenes to resolve ongoing trade tensions with China. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer spent the weekend in Geneva, where they met with Chinese counterparts to hash out a potential trade reset. On Monday, both governments released a joint statement announcing that each country would reduce tariffs by 115%, while retaining an additional 10% tariff during a 90-day review period.

The U.S. had earlier imposed tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports, part of Trump’s broader “Liberation Day” policy to address trade imbalances. China responded with retaliatory duties, including a 125% tariff on U.S. goods.

“Many things discussed, much agreed to,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “We want to see, for the good of both China and the U.S., an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!”

Elsewhere, the administration is moving forward with a controversial new refugee policy allowing White Afrikaners from South Africa to resettle in the U.S., citing racial persecution under new land seizure laws enacted by the South African government. Trump previously signed an executive order in February cutting U.S. aid to South Africa and prioritizing humanitarian relief for Afrikaners facing what officials call “race-based persecution.”

As of Sunday, Trump has signed 147 executive orders since his return to office in January—including 143 in his first 100 days—far surpassing the pace set by his modern predecessors.