WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump loves big numbers — and he's always happy to talk them up.
Trump, who coined the phrase “truthful hyperbole” in his book “The Art of the Deal,” over the last few days has been steadily increasing the amount of money he says that countries in the Mideast pledged to invest in the U.S. when he visited the region last week. He didn't provide underlying details.
The figure has gone from $2 trillion last week to potentially as much as $7 trillion as of Tuesday, according to statements by Trump and the White House.
A look at how the number has bounced around:
THURSDAY: With his Mideast trip still under way, Trump told reporters on Air Force One: “We just took in $4 trillion.”
FRIDAY: A White House statement said Trump’s “first official trip was a huge success, locking in over $2 trillion in great deals.”
MONDAY: “We brought back about $5.1 trillion," Trump said in remarks to the Kennedy Center's leadership. “That’s not bad. And, it’s being credited as one of the, maybe, the most successful visit that anybody's ever made to any place. There's never been anything like this.”
TUESDAY: “They’re spending $5.1 trillion, probably it’s going to be $7 trillion by the time we stop,” Trump said before a U.S. Capitol meeting with Republican House members.
TUESDAY: “You know, we took in $5.1 trillion in the last four days from the Middle East,” Trump said later in the afternoon in the Oval Office.
The White House did not respond to a request to explain the sources of Trump's escalating claims.
The White House did provide a breakdown on the $2 trillion in its Friday statement. It included $600 billion in investment from Saudi Arabia, which the country announced in January as part of a four-year commitment. There would also be a $1.2 trillion economic exchange with Qatar, as well as $243.5 billion in commercial and defense deals with that country. The United Arab Emirates committed to $200 billion in deals with the U.S., putting the initial White House total at $2.24 trillion, provided all those commitments are actually fulfilled.
Not all of the investment commitments or promised jobs are sure to materialize, so the final tally might not be as much as promised.
Trump said in 2017 that the electronics manufacturer Foxconn would build a $10 billion factory in Wisconsin employing 13,000 people, only for the company to back down from that commitment in 2019.
In this photo released by the Saudi Royal Palace, Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, left, shakes hands with President Donald Trump, centre, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. At right is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.(Bandar Aljaloud/Saudi Royal Palace via AP)
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before a House Republican conference meeting, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Lucas Pettersson and Eddie Genborg each scored twice and Sweden beat the United States 6-3 on Wednesday night in the world junior hockey championship to complete group play unbeaten.
Casper Juustovaara opened the scoring in the first period on a deflection, and the Swedes led 5-1 in the second period in the Group A finale. Ivar Stenberg scored in the third, and Love Harenstam made 28 saves.
“We knew it would be hard game,” Swedish forward Milton Gastrin said. “They were better at the start, but we kept it together and took over a bit in the second and scored some goals. We played like a team the whole way, and I think we did that better than they did, which is probably why we won.”
In the quarterfinals Friday, Sweden will face Latvia, and the second-place Americans will play Finland, a 7-4 loser to Canada later Wednesday night in the Group B finale in Minneapolis. Canada will play Slovakia, and Czechia will meet Switzerland.
Chase Reid, Will Zellers and Teddy Stiga scored for the United States. Brady Knowling stopped 23 shots in his tournament debut before giving way to Nick Kempf. The Americans lost for the first time in four games in the tournament.
“They’re a pretty good team and we didn’t play our best,” Reid said. “We’ll see them again, and we’ll get them back. I feel like we can play the same way, but we didn’t bring our best game tonight. We took a lot of undisciplined penalties that we didn’t need to take, but it’s a learning lesson and we’ll come back stronger.”
In the late game at the University of Minnesota, Cole Beaudoin had two goals and an assist for Canada.
“You watch this tournament, and you watch this game specifically on New Year’s Eve with your family, so means a lot,” Beaudoin said.
Brady Martin also scored twice, and Zayne Parekh had a goal and two assists. The 19-year-old Parekh has appeared in 12 games for the Calgary Flames.
Earlier, Switzerland beat Slovakia 3-2 to finish third in Group A, and Chechia topped Latvia 4-2 in Group B for its third straight win since an opening loss to Canada.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Finland's Roope Vesterinen (10) skates with the puck while Canada's Gavin McKenna (9) and Zayne Parekh (19) defend during second period IIHF World Junior Championship hockey action in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada goaltender Carter George (30) makes a save on Finland's Joona Saarelainen (12) during first period IIHF World Junior Championship hockey action in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Tij Iginla (11) celebrates his goal with teammates after scoring in second period IIHF World Junior Championship hockey action against Finland in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Cole Beaudoin (26) celebrates his goal with teammates after scoring in second period IIHF World Junior Championship hockey action against Finland in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland's Roope Vesterinen (10) skates with the puck while Canada's Gavin McKenna (9) and Zayne Parekh (19) defend during second period IIHF World Junior Championship hockey action in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada goaltender Carter George (30) makes a save on Finland's Joona Saarelainen (12) during first period IIHF World Junior Championship hockey action in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Tij Iginla (11) celebrates his goal with teammates after scoring in second period IIHF World Junior Championship hockey action against Finland in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Cole Beaudoin (26) celebrates his goal with teammates after scoring in second period IIHF World Junior Championship hockey action against Finland in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Team Czechia celebrates after defeating Latvia in IIHF World Junior Championship hockey action in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
