The White House has doubled down on the proposed deal which has been criticised by some of the president's top supporters.

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday a $200 billion deal between Qatar Airways and Boeing, a lifeline for the beleaguered American aerospace giant and a powerful symbol of the diplomatic maneuvering defining his presidency.

State carrier Qatar Airways signed a deal on Wednesday to purchase up to 210 widebody jets from Boeing during President Donald Trump's visit to the Gulf Arab country, a coup for the U.S. planemaker. The deal for Boeing 777X and 787 planes with GE Aerospace engines was worth $96 billion,