Trump Announces $1.2 Trillion Economic Deal with Qatar

President Donald J. Trump announced a sweeping economic agreement with Qatar totaling at least $1.2 trillion, including over $243.5 billion in finalized deals. These agreements, announced yesterday (Wednesday) during Trump’s visit in Doha, span defense, energy, aviation, infrastructure, and emerging technologies—reinforcing U.S. manufacturing, innovation, and job creation.

A centerpiece of the announcement was a historic $96 billion order by Qatar Airways for up to 210 Boeing aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines, marking Boeing’s largest-ever widebody and 787 Dreamliner deal. This agreement is expected to support 154,000 U.S. jobs annually during production. Other notable deals include McDermott’s $8.5 billion in energy infrastructure projects with QatarEnergy, Parsons’ $97 billion in engineering contracts, and a $1 billion joint venture between quantum computing company Quantinuum and Qatari firm Al Rabban Capital.

In the defense sector, Raytheon secured a $1 billion agreement for Qatar’s acquisition of advanced counter-drone systems, while General Atomics signed a nearly $2 billion deal for the MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft. A broader $38 billion U.S.-Qatar defense cooperation framework was also signed, covering future investments in air defense and maritime security.

Qatar continues to be a major investor in the U.S., with $3.3 billion in 2023 greenfield investments across industries such as hospitality, energy, and technology. QatarEnergy alone has invested $18 billion in U.S. energy infrastructure since 2019.

With a $2 billion U.S. trade surplus and $5.64 billion in bilateral trade in 2024, Qatar is a key strategic and economic partner. President Trump framed these deals as part of a broader push to revitalize American manufacturing and usher in a “new Golden Age” of economic prosperity, following major investment agreements with Saudi Arabia, the U.K., and China.

The deal raises several ethical and strategic concerns that remain unaddressed in the official narrative.

Most notably, the press release makes no mention of reports that Qatar gifted a custom Boeing 757 to former President Trump. Such a gift—especially if made during or after sensitive negotiations—could represent a conflict of interest and a possible violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause, which prohibits government officials from accepting gifts from foreign states without congressional approval, as well as raise serious security concerns. 

Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the aircraft would have to be checked for surveillance equipment and receive security upgrades, telling Politico that "It would be like the United States moving into the Qatari embassy. I’m not sure how quickly the Qatari aircraft can be retooled."

“I think it's not worth the appearance of impropriety,I wouldn't take it," Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky said to Fox News. 

Back to the deal itself. While its economic potential is undeniable, the lack of transparency and unresolved ethical questions cast a long shadow over the announcement. From the alleged personal gifts to the transfer of cutting-edge military and quantum technologies, the deal underscores the fine line between strategic partnership and undue influence. Without stronger oversight and public accountability, critics warn that America risks trading long-term security and democratic values for short-term economic gain. As the deal moves forward, the administration faces mounting pressure to answer who ultimately benefits—and at what cost.