Executive summary:
- President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia this morning for the first stop on a multi-country Gulf tour aimed at drumming up investment in the United States. Despite regional issues such as the war in Gaza, Iran nuclear talks, and long-term plans to normalise relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, the foreign policy goals of the trip are unclear.
- The Trump administration reportedly is set to authorise an AI deal to act as a bulwark against China in the region.
- US gross customs duties collected in April reached a monthly record, as tariff revenue ramped up.
- Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at cutting prescription drug costs by ‘equalising’ prices with other countries.
- It’s crunch day on Capitol Hill for President Trump’s domestic legislative agenda. The three most consequential House committees will meet today to mark up their portions of Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful’ reconciliation bill. We have a full roundup of the Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Agriculture bills under debate. If the three committees complete their markups this week, the rest of the package is likely to fall into place.
- Trump told reporters yesterday he could adjust his Middle East schedule to include a stop in Turkey on Thursday if a proposed summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy goes ahead.
- Poll of the Day: China has overtaken the US in net global perceptions for the first time.
Please find the full article attached below: US DAILY BRIEF