Trending Now - Trump Faces Backlash Over $8.6B Arms Deal Without Congress

WHO:

Common Dreams - President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Mohamed ElBaradei, Kenneth Roth

Truthout - US State Department, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Qatar, Kuwait

WHAT:

Common Dreams - Trump approved an $8.6 billion weapons deal without congressional review.

Common Dreams - The deal includes the transfer of rockets to Israel, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and air-defense equipment to Qatar and Kuwait.

Common Dreams - Qatar is set to pay more than $4 billion for American-made Patriot missile interceptors.

Common Dreams - Kuwait purchased an advanced aerial defense system for about $2.5 billion.

Common Dreams - This is the third time the Trump administration has invoked an emergency authorization to bypass Congress on arms sales during the Iran war.

WHERE:

Common Dreams - The arms deal involves countries in the Middle East, specifically Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

WHY:

Common Dreams - The deal was expedited under an emergency provision allowing for the “immediate sale” of weapons, prompting criticism from Democratic lawmakers.

Common Dreams - Kenneth Roth criticized the deal, stating that Trump is fast-tracking arms sales to the UAE without assurances that the UAE would cease arming the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.

HOW:

Common Dreams - The US State Department announced the arms deal quietly, bypassing standard congressional review.

(UPDATED May 4, 2026 05:57 UTC)

President Trump has approved an $8.6 billion weapons deal that bypasses congressional review, involving the transfer of rockets to Israel, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, along with air-defense equipment to Qatar and Kuwait. Qatar is set to pay over $4 billion for American-made Patriot missile interceptors, while Kuwait has purchased an advanced aerial defense system for around $2.5 billion. This marks the third time the Trump administration has used an emergency authorization to expedite arms sales during the Iran war, a move that has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers and human rights advocates.