This week we looked at Trump's trip, birthright citizenship at the Supreme Court and lawmakers grill RFK. Plus: Trump and crypto

May 17, 2025

The Big Picture: Plane Envy

Win McNamee/Getty Images

President Trump was greeted like royalty during his four-day trip to the Middle East. There were opulent palaces, fighter jet escorts, a parade of camels and much more. It was exactly the kind of pomp that makes Trump, with his love of a gold-plated lifestyle, envious.

His focus, he said, was on securing money and deals for the United States. The Gulf states obliged, trying to curry favor with the president through investments, arms deals and buying Boeing planes while, of course, giving a very lavish one away.

Here are five takeaways from Trump’s trip:

1. It played to Trump’s ego: Gulf leaders seemed to be buying into the idea that with Trump, someone who loves glitz and glamour, that flattery will get you everywhere. He got a lot of it during this trip.

2. It focused on deals but was overshadowed by a plane: There were lots of financial agreements struck between the United States, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but a plane Qatar gifted him created the most drama. Trump wants the “flying palace” to replace Air Force One (then sent to his presidential library), but there are lots of questions related to security, ethics and cost.

3. Many Republicans think accepting the plane would be a bad idea: Nevermind that accepting the plane would seem to violate the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution that bars such gifts, the plane could also only get a couple years of use. Trump is coming back from his trip facing lots of pushback for many reasons, including for wanting to accept a $400 million plane while urging doll-and-pencil austerity on other Americans.

4. Trump got what he wanted -- without any of the pesky conversations about democracy or human rights: Normally, American presidents who visit the Middle East talk of forging new relationships, but also are closely watched for how they talk about encouraging democracy and human rights. For Trump none of that matters. It’s transactions over principle, a pivot away from American moral leadership.

5. The trip’s focus was deals – with a little learned about his stances on substance related to Syria, Iran, Gaza and Ukraine: It was impossible for Trump to totally escape the hot-button international issues. One thing he’s going to have to make a decision on is whether he continues to accede to Russia’s Vladimir Putin in allowing him to delay a peace deal with Ukraine. Does Trump, at some point, lose patience?

— Domenico Montanaro, NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent

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ICYMI: Top Stories

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Birthright citizenship at SCOTUS: Supreme Court justices appeared at least partially divided on Thursday as they heard arguments on how the lower courts should handle President Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. Trump has long maintained that there is no such thing as birthright citizenship, but the Supreme Court ruled otherwise 127 years ago. Justices will also consider whether district courts can issue universal injunctions to block policies nationwide.

Protected status revoked for Afghans: As many as 9,000 Afghan refugees – including some who worked with the U.S. during its war in Afghanistan – are at risk of deportation, as the Trump administration has ended the temporary protected status that allowed them to stay in the U.S. legally. The White House says their country is no longer dangerous for them, but that’s a contention that confounds Afghanistan watchers.

Roadblocks for one big bill: House Republicans are working to finalize the details of a massive package on taxes, spending cuts, energy and immigration policy that includes major portions of President Trump’s agenda. Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to hold together a narrow majority that is deeply divided on key issues. And that might be the easy part: Many Senate Republicans are dismissing the legislation before it even makes it to their chamber.

Lawmakers grill RFK: Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was on Capitol Hill this week, where he fielded questions on budget cuts, measles and his planned autism research. In contentious hearings, Kennedy stood by Trump’s plans to cut billions more from the HHS budget, while acknowledging the cuts will be "painful."

— Lexie Schapitl, NPR Politics producer

Going Deeper: The First Crypto President?

Mark Humphrey/AP

President Trump has spent his entire life selling his brand: Trump hotels, Trump steaks, Trump University, Trump Bibles.

Now, he's selling Trump coin, or more accurately $TRUMP coin, a cryptocurrency that has the potential to make him even richer.

NPR Politics reporters looked into the conflicts of interest surrounding a sitting president backing crypto. It's the latest example of Trump's political career and business interests intersecting.

Learn more on the NPR Politics Podcast or on NPR One.

— Lexie Schapitl, NPR Politics producer

The Shot: Pope Meets Sinner

Vatican Media/AP

Italian tennis pro Jannik Sinner, that is.

The top-ranked tennis player visited Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday, gave him a tennis racket and offered to play, during an off day for Sinner at the Italian Open.

Leo, the first American pope, is an avid tennis player and fan and had said earlier this week that he would be up for a charity match when it was suggested by a journalist.

— Lexie Schapitl, NPR Politics producer

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