President Donald Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House in a meeting characterized by warmth, substantial investment pledges, and a focus on defense. The high-stakes visit saw both leaders emphasize a strong personal connection, with Trump largely sidestepping human rights concerns and highlighting Saudi Arabia’s significant financial commitments to the U.S. The event was marked by ceremonial grandeur, including military displays and a formal dinner.
A key focus of the discussions was the potential sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. Trump indicated his support for the deal, stating that any Israeli concerns about maintaining military superiority would be addressed. This comes as Israel has signaled openness to the sale, contingent on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations under the Abraham Accords. Crown Prince Mohammed reiterated Saudi Arabia’s desire to join the accords but stressed the necessity of a clear roadmap towards a two-state solution for Palestinians. Discussions also touched upon broader security agreements, including progress on civilian nuclear cooperation.
The visit occurred amid lingering controversy surrounding the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, with U.S. intelligence linking Crown Prince Mohammed to the incident. Trump downplayed the issue, characterizing Khashoggi as controversial and asserting that the Crown Prince had no knowledge of the event. Prince Mohammed acknowledged the incident as painful for Saudi Arabia and assured that investigations and reforms had been implemented to prevent future occurrences. Trump also briefly mentioned Saudi Arabia’s human rights reforms, including women’s rights initiatives.
The two leaders displayed evident personal camaraderie, with Trump greeting the Crown Prince warmly and guiding him through the White House. This display of friendship was further underscored by Trump’s comments contrasting his engagement with a previous fist bump by former President Biden. Economically, the visit yielded significant promises, with Saudi Arabia pledging to increase its financial commitments to the U.S. from $600 billion to $1 trillion. These investments are slated for sectors like artificial intelligence and major joint projects, setting an ambitious tone for future bilateral relations.