For Trump, it is clear - if there is enough money on the table, some unpleasant things can be swept under the carpet. And all this appeals to Arab leaders. Commentary by Anna Osius of ARD.
US President Donald Trump loves golf. His current trip to the Middle East resembles a game of golf - a walk from place to place, with a few successful shots, writes in her commentary Anna Osius, a writer for the German public television ARD. She calls his tour "a pleasant walk in the desert".
Upon landing in Saudi Arabia, the US president was greeted with honors and personally by the crown prince and de facto leader of Riyadh, Mohammed bin Salman. He shook his hand, which the US president gladly accepted. The message is clear - this is the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia today.
When only money matters
There are no more talks about human rights, as Biden used to try to lead, and no criticism of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. For Trump, it is clear - if there is enough money on the table, some other unpleasant things can be swept under the carpet, comments Anna Ozius. And all this appeals to Arab leaders.
The 78-year-old Trump and the Saudi crown prince, who is almost half his age, are similar, Ozius continues. Both love deals and completely turn their countries upside down, with little interest in the establishment.
A big business trip
Trump's tour of the Middle East is mostly one thing: a business trip. We are talking about billions, even more.
The Persian Gulf has serious funds, and Trump wants to attract them to America. The fact that much of this money is invested in arms deals clearly does not bother the American president, but in fact, this did not bother previous US administrations either, notes ARD. However, Trump has no remorse (if he has any at all) for something else - and here he is far ahead of his predecessors. We are talking about the private "misadventures" of his family in the Persian Gulf.
A few days ago, one of Trump's sons presented the president's latest skyscraper, which is currently being built in Dubai. A skyscraper with the Trump brand is already being built in the Saudi port city of Jeddah. Of course, there will be golf courses. A Trump golf course has been operating in Dubai for several years, and a new one is planned in Qatar. The United Arab Emirates, on the other hand, has promised to invest about two billion dollars in Trump's new crypto company. In short, the Trump family is making a lot of money and investing a lot in the Persian Gulf, ARD emphasizes.
Deals and gifts
The happy and satisfied American president is traveling to the Middle East with his entire business entourage - including Elon Musk. And he is receiving congratulations for all the deals he has made. Many of them were signed in Riyadh - mostly for weapons. Scary!
Let's not forget the plane! "Qatar can in one move prove in practice what everyone else thinks - Trump is for sale", writes Anna Ozius in her commentary. What is it about? The emirate has allegedly offered the American president an almost new Boeing 747, which Trump can use as a new state plane in place of Air Force One. The Qatari "winged palace", as it is called, costs about $400 million. Trump has no problem accepting such a gift. Turkish President Recep Erdogan has already done the same, writes ARD.
Should the president be a role model?
How much morality is needed in politics, asks the ARD author. To what extent should presidents be role models? In all large companies, it is forbidden to take advantage of your official position - in Germany it is a crime.
Trump calls those who criticize him "corrupt" - everything he does is open and we are all watching him. Does this impudence really pay off? Respect and morality seem to be a thing of the past in Trump's new world. The American president's policy is guided by one maxim - everything depends on the price. And the price this time is too high. It would be better if Trump went back to playing golf in Florida again, commented Anna Ozius.