WASHINGTON — It seems like an eternity since Joe Biden’s brief fist bump with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Now, three years on, former President Donald Trump enjoyed a lavish and grandiose royal welcome upon his arrival in Saudi Arabia this Tuesday.
During this visit, discussions surrounding human rights or fossil fuel dependence within the oil-rich kingdom were notably absent. Instead, the focus was firmly on striking deals and celebrating a resilient personal rapport that has weathered various scandals and political storms. As they sat beneath opulent chandeliers on golden chairs in the royal palace, Trump expressed, “I really believe we like each other a lot.” Later in a speech, he extolled Prince Mohammed as an “incredible man” and a “friend.”
The sentiment appeared mutual. The crown prince referred to his guest as “my dear President Trump,” while Saudi hosts played his campaign anthems — “God Bless the U.S.A.” and “YMCA” — as he attended an investment forum.
For the Republican leader, this visit marked a return to the global stage following his notable comeback in the election. Approximately a year prior, he was embroiled in a trial regarding a hush money case, enduring the testimony of his former attorney in New York City. Though Trump had attended Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome, Saudi Arabia was broadly intended to be his primary international stop, reminiscent of his first term’s foreign policy sortie dedicated to procuring financial infusions for American enterprises.
Upon disembarking from Air Force One, Trump gave a triumphant fist pump before shaking hands with Prince Mohammed, who received him on the tarmac, a rare display of honor. The prince, acting as Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, is fervently working to improve his international reputation after the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which U.S. intelligence alleges he ordered. He is also keen on spurring an economic renaissance to diminish the kingdom’s fossil fuel dependency, and Trump’s visit was a chance to showcase an open invitation to investment once more.
An opulent luncheon boasted a notable guest list of corporate titans, including Ruth Porat from Google, Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone Group, Jane Fraser from Citicorp, Alex Karp of Palantir, and NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang, in addition to Elon Musk, presently the wealthiest individual globally and a chief advisor to Trump.
As Trump’s plane neared Riyadh, six U.S.-made F-15 fighter jets piloted by Saudis escorted it. Upon participating in a traditional coffee ceremony at the airport’s royal terminal, Trump’s limousine was accompanied by white Arabian horses carrying American and Saudi banners. An honor guard greeted them wielding golden swords. (Notably absent this visit was the famous glowing orb from Trump’s prior trip to Riyadh.)
Unlike Trump’s European defensive and trade alliances, in Riyadh, there was no ambiguity, with Trump asserting that U.S.-Saudi relations “have been a bedrock of security and prosperity.” By contrast, Biden, during his visit three years ago, attracting little fanfare, had previously denounced Saudi Arabia as a “pariah.” However, he attended anyway, implicitly recognizing the nation’s global significance.
The crown prince initially met Biden at the palace, where the two executed a simple fist bump, with their primary public meeting occurring across a large conference table. Later in the same year, OPEC+ announced a cut in oil production—a move unfavorable to Biden amidst inflationary pressures, indicating “problems” in U.S.-Saudi ties. During Trump’s visit, however, no such unease was evident. Instead, Trump praised Saudi economic growth and advised against foreign leaders dictating governance.
“You achieved a modern miracle the Arabian way,” Trump declared. The prince, seated in the crowd, placed a hand over his heart, smiling broadly.