Trump Receives Royal Welcome And Money From MBS On Saudi Arabia Visit
On May 13, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump was warmly welcomed by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in Riyadh, marking the start of a significant Middle East tour. The elaborate reception began as Trump disembarked from Air Force One onto a purple carpet at King Khalid International Airport, greeted personally by MBS with a handshake and a traditional coffee ceremony. The royal court hosted further pomp, including a motorcade escorted by Arabian horses, American and Saudi flags lining the streets, and a formal greeting at the Royal Palace, where Trump was seen engaging jovially with Saudi officials. This lavish welcome, a rare honor for U.S. presidents, underscored the strong personal rapport between Trump and MBS, with Trump calling the crown prince a “friend” and expressing mutual admiration, signaling a renewal of robust U.S.-Saudi ties.
The visit culminated in the signing of a strategic economic partnership, highlighted by a $600 billion investment commitment from Saudi Arabia to the United States, which Trump later suggested could rise to $1 trillion. This deal, described as including the “largest defence sales agreement in history” valued at nearly $142 billion, encompasses energy, mining, defense, and potential investments in artificial intelligence. The agreement was formalized during a ceremony at the Royal Court, where Trump and MBS signed documents and shook hands, surrounded by top U.S. officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and business leaders such as Elon Musk. The scale of these investments reflects Saudi Arabia’s ambition to diversify its economy and strengthen bilateral ties, with Trump emphasizing the job creation and economic benefits for American companies.
These massive deals are poised to deepen the U.S.-Saudi alliance, building on decades of mutual interests in security and economic prosperity. The defense agreements, potentially including advanced weaponry and discussions about Lockheed F-35 jets, aim to bolster Saudi Arabia’s military capabilities amid regional tensions, particularly with Iran. Beyond defense, the investments target transformative sectors, aligning with MBS’s Vision 2030 to modernize Saudi Arabia’s economy. However, the intertwining of Trump’s family business interests in the region, including real estate and cryptocurrency ventures, raises questions about transparency and potential conflicts of interest. While the economic upside is significant, with millions of jobs attributed to U.S.-Saudi trade, critics argue that such transactional diplomacy may overlook human rights concerns, a pattern consistent with Trump’s prior engagements with the kingdom.
