Live updates: Trump praises new Syrian leader; RFK Jr. testifies on Capitol Hill

President Trump is in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday after a swing through Saudi Arabia that saw him securing billions in economic and military investments between Washington and Riyadh.

In a signal of thawing tensions, Trump met and also praised the new Syrian president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, ahead of a Gulf Corporation Council meeting alongside the Saudi crown prince and the Turkish president, who joined by phone.

He’s a “young, attractive guy,” Trump said. “Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter.”

Trump also said he thought al-Sharaa has “got a real shot at holding it together.”

Trump announced on Tuesday that he would suspend U.S. sanctions on Syria in order to help the war-torn country in the aftermath of the toppling of former President Bashar a-Assad.

“I felt very strongly that this would give them a chance,” Trump said. “Gives them a good, strong chance…it was my honor to do so."

Trump's trip to Qatar is also overshadowed by a cascade of criticism over his potential accepting of a $400 million Boeing 747-8 luxury jet from Qatar that reports suggest could replace Air Force One.

The aerospace company has had a contract with the U.S. government to replace the fleet of presidential planes but has been faced with years of delays.

Another announcement being anticipated involves a deal between Qatar and Boeing for a fleet of planes for Qatar Airways, the country's flag carrier that flies to hundreds of destinations around the world.

In Washington, House Republicans worked through the night on the arduous task of marking up the Medicaid and taxes portion of Trump's key domestic agenda. The House Ways and Means Committee advanced its portion of the bill Wednesday morning, but the Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to go through the day.

And Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is slated to appear before House and Senate panels today to discuss the budget proposal for his agency, which includes massive cuts.

Follow below for live updates.