UPDATE - Trump says he will make a 'very big announcement' before departing for Middle East

ADDS MORE REMARKS FROM US PRESIDENT

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will be making a "very, very big announcement" before he departs for the Middle East later this month.

Trump said the announcement, which he did not specify, would be "as big as it gets" but declined to offer any specifics on what it might entail, other than to say it is "very positive."

"That announcement will be made either Thursday or Friday or Monday before we leave, but it'll be one of the most important announcements that have been made in many years about a certain subject," he said at the White House as he hosted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The White House announced last month that Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from May 13-16. The trip was supposed to be his first abroad, but Pope Francis' death in April prompted him to travel to Rome for the solemn funeral service.

During the swearing-in ceremony of Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House, Trump told reporters that he is not planning on visiting Israel as part of his upcoming visit.

"We're planning on Israel, but we will be doing it at some point, but not for this trip," he said.

*Diyar Guldogan from Washington, DC contributed to this report