Donald Trump continued his trip to the Middle East, the first official state visit to the Gulf nation by the U.S. president.

But before he landed on the Air Force alone into the Katari capital Doha, Trump made history in another way: he attended the first ever meeting with Syrian new president Ahmed Al-Sharaa.

Wednesday marks the halfway through Trump's four-day trip, which includes an opening stop in Saudi Arabia and will end in the United Arab Emirates.

Like his other stop, Trump highlighted warming ties and expanded business ties with leaders in Syria and Qatar - but Democrats returned to the United States and expressed concerns about how the personal interests of Republican leaders guided his closed dialogue.

This is a key takeaway from Wednesday’s meetings and stops.

High-profile conference in Saudi Arabia

Before heading for Qatar, Trump attended one of the most anticipated meetings of his entire trip: sitting down with Syrian President al-Sharaa.

This is the first time in nearly a quarter of a century that top leaders from Syria and the United States have met face to face. The meeting was extraordinary for a number of reasons: Until December, the United States offered a $10 million reward for Al-Sharaa's captives.

It continues to list the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led by the armed group al-Sharaa during the Syrian Civil War, because of its past connections to al-Qaeda, which is a "foreign terrorist organization."

But the U.S. has been reevaluating its relationship with the group and its leaders since the HTS-led coalition overthrew the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December.

The overthrow of the Assad government ended Syria's 13-year civil war, and Al-Assad, long accused of human rights violations, fled to Russia.

Under his meeting with Al-Sharaa on Wednesday, Trump announced that he would lift sanctions imposed on Syria by Al-Assad leadership, a development that Al-Sharaa's administration praised for its economic favor and move towards stability.

Al-Sharaa joined Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a face-to-face meeting on Wednesday, while Turkiye's President Recep Erdogan joined by phone.

Trump "tells President Al-Sharaa that he has a great chance to do historic things in his country," according to White House readers. He also encouraged Syria to expel the borders of “foreign terrorists” and “Palestinian terrorists” and normalize relations with Israel.

The reader added that al-Sharaa said he shared the U.S. interests in “resisting terrorism and eliminating chemical weapons.” He also encouraged the United States to invest in Syria's oil sector.

Later, when he boarded Air Force One for Qatar, reporters asked Trump to share his first impression of al-Sharaa.

"Great. I think it's very good. Young, attractive guy. Strong past. Past. Past. Fighter. His real shot pulls it together," Trump replied.

Red carpet arriving in Qatar

So far, throughout the Middle East travel, prevalence and environment have greeted Trump, and his arrival in Qatar is no exception.

Even before Air Force One landed in Doha, the Cathari capital, the feast of the visit—the international tour of Trump’s second term—had been on display in full swing.

When White House communications adviser Margo Martin entered Qatar Airways airspace, he posted videos of F-15 fighters online on either side of the Air Force side, providing the president with a "escort of honor."

A red carpet greets Trump when Trump lands in Qatar. Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani of the country was present to welcome him. A ceremony guard, riding a white horse and camel head, stepped beside his convoy as his convoy was transported to his convoy’s visit.

"We are honored to be here. We are very excited and very happy. It was a historic visit," said Al Thani. "I don't know if you know you are the first US president to officially visit Qatar. So we feel very honored."

Al Jazeera's White House correspondent Kimberly Halkett, who has been on the U.S. president's journey, said that the wealth of Trump's tour has been a selling point for his domestic audience so far.

"Americans love feasts and feasts. They find it fun to see state dinners with camels and see some tea and coffee rituals," said Halket.

Even Trump marveled at the interior decoration of Amiri Diwan, the center of the Qatar government, calling marble “perfect.”

Agreements to promote trade and defense

Trump’s White House describes the president as a “trader” and every stop in his four-day tour has so far reached the culmination of a major business deal with the United States.

Wednesday's visit to Qatar was no exception.

The White House announced that the United States and Qatar have reached a deal worth at least $1.2 trillion, including a major deal that will allow Qatar Airways to buy 210 aircraft from Boeing.

According to the government's fact sheet, the deal alone is worth $96 billion. Still, this is a adjustment to the higher number mentioned by Trump during his travels, $200 billion.

"This is the largest jet in Boeing history," Trump said in a signing document with Emir Al Thani.

"We have been friends for a long time," Trump said in a gesture to his leader.

Other parts of the deal include purchasing drone and anti-drone technology from US defense companies such as Raytheon.

“I think after signing these documents, we will reach another relationship between Qatar and the United States,” Al Thani thanked Trump.

Democrats criticize conflict of interest

But back in the United States, Trump's stay in Qatar at his critics, especially the eyebrows in the Democratic Party continue to attract attention.

One weekend before the trip, Trump reported that his Defense Department would accept a luxury Boeing jet worth $400 million and be called the "Palace in the Sky."

Such a gift was originally one of the biggest gifts in the history of the president. In view of the Constitution's Emer's clause, critics warn that this raises moral and legal issues, which prohibits the federal government from accepting gifts from foreign governments without prior approval from Congress.

Despite this, Trump defended the idea on social media. He called the plane a "gift, free" and the plane was conducted "in a very open and transparent transaction."

He also returned to media reports that he would use the plane as a personal means of transportation after leaving the office. Sources say the plane is likely to be retired after Trump resigned from his office and sent to his presidential library.

Ultimately, there was no mention of the jet in a meeting with Emir Al Thani on Wednesday. It is not clear whether the exchange will continue.

However, the Democratic National Committee announced that it plans to banner the Margrago residence in Trump, Florida, to coincide with his visit to Qatar, with the word "Qatar-a-lago".

Air Force reporters urged the president another potential conflict of interest.

A reporter asked Trump about a deal that would allow an investment company in the United Arab Emirates (the next stop on his tour) to buy a large amount of cryptocurrency from a company run by his family. The deal is reportedly worth $20 billion.

"I really know nothing," Trump replied. "But I'm a big fan of cryptocurrencies. I'll tell you, from the start, it started with the campaign. I'm a Crypto follower."

Trump is scheduled to travel to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday before returning to the United States on Friday.