WASHINGTON โ It seems like an eternity since Joe Bidenโs 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, โI really believe we like each other a lot.โ Later in a speech, he extolled Prince Mohammed as an โincredible manโ and a โfriend.โ
The sentiment appeared mutual. The crown prince referred to his guest as โmy dear President Trump,โ while Saudi hosts played his campaign anthems โ โGod Bless the U.S.A.โ and โYMCAโ โ 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 Francisโ funeral in Rome, Saudi Arabia was broadly intended to be his primary international stop, reminiscent of his first termโs 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 Arabiaโs 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 kingdomโs fossil fuel dependency, and Trumpโs 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 NVIDIAโs Jensen Huang, in addition to Elon Musk, presently the wealthiest individual globally and a chief advisor to Trump.
As Trumpโs 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 airportโs royal terminal, Trumpโs 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 Trumpโs prior trip to Riyadh.)
Unlike Trumpโs European defensive and trade alliances, in Riyadh, there was no ambiguity, with Trump asserting that U.S.-Saudi relations โhave been a bedrock of security and prosperity.โ By contrast, Biden, during his visit three years ago, attracting little fanfare, had previously denounced Saudi Arabia as a โpariah.โ However, he attended anyway, implicitly recognizing the nationโs 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 productionโa move unfavorable to Biden amidst inflationary pressures, indicating โproblemsโ in U.S.-Saudi ties. During Trumpโs visit, however, no such unease was evident. Instead, Trump praised Saudi economic growth and advised against foreign leaders dictating governance.
โYou achieved a modern miracle the Arabian way,โ Trump declared. The prince, seated in the crowd, placed a hand over his heart, smiling broadly.