Prince Hosted

President Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday.

Context

The US and Saudi Arabia have maintained a strategic partnership for over 80 years, centered on defense cooperation, energy, and regional security in the Middle East. Trump has prioritized the relationship with the kingdom, choosing Saudi Arabia for his first overseas trip in both his first and second terms as president. The crown prince's visit was his first to Washington in eight years and aimed to strengthen cooperation with the US.

Khashoggi Questions

During Tuesday’s White House meeting, reporters asked Trump about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post. The president said the crown prince “knew nothing about it” and told reporters not to “embarrass our guest.” Trump added that “a lot of people didn’t like that gentleman you're talking about” and that “things happen.”

The CIA had previously concluded that the crown prince approved the mission to kill Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and dismembered his body. The crown prince called the murder a “huge mistake” and said Saudi Arabia took “all the right steps” to investigate it.

Investment and Security

The crown prince announced that Saudi Arabia would increase its investments in the US from $600B to nearly $1T. Trump gave the crown prince an elaborate welcome that included a 21-gun salute, military flyover with fighter jets, and a black-tie dinner at the White House.

The president also announced he would designate Saudi Arabia as a “major non-NATO ally,” a formal status that deepens defense cooperation and provides broader access to US weapons.

Deals Signed

The two countries signed multiple agreements covering civil nuclear energy cooperation, AI, critical minerals, and defense. Trump also approved the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia and said he was working on export licenses for advanced computer chips. The deals included what the White House described as a $142B defense agreement, calling it the single biggest arms sale in history.

The leaders also discussed potential normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, though the crown prince said the kingdom first wanted to see a “clear path” to establishing a Palestinian state.