Gulf allies’ Trump ties hand a hostile Congress subpoena targets
Washington’s key Gulf allies are expected to come under fire as Democrats use their new congressional majorities to investigate US President Donald Trump’s final two years in office. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar could all be dragged into congressional investigations over allegations that Trump, his family and influential members of his administration abused their positions to…
As Democrats take control of both the House and Senate following the recent midterm elections, they have signaled a focus on investigating the final two years of President Donald Trump's presidency. Key targets of these investigations could include the business dealings of Trump, his family, and influential members of his administration, which observers say could involve allegations of abuse of power for personal gain.
Middle East fellow Kristian Coates Ulrichsen of Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy noted that inquiries might explore how Trump administration officials and other close associates operated from January 2025 onwards.
Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar, could face congressional scrutiny over potential corruption. Kenneth Katzman, a former senior analyst with the Congressional Research Service, emphasized that the UAE's ties to Trump's special envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, would likely be the main focus of any investigations.
The Congressional Research Service's Andreas Krieg explained that with subpoena power now in the hands of both chambers, Democrats are expected to conduct a "sustained campaign" of hearings, potentially questioning whether private commercial relationships granted privileged access to national security decisions.
A significant point of concern is Saudi Arabia's agreement to grant American nuclear power technology without safeguards against uranium enrichment, which is anticipated to be heavily scrutinized in Congress. Krieg also highlighted the F-35 fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia, anticipating political resistance from both parties in response to these controversial deals. Qatar, too, may come under investigation due to its relationship with Trump's administration and business dealings during that time.
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