President Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House, rolling out a red carpet and heaping praise on him, despite U.S. intelligence findings that the crown prince approved the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
When questioned about the murder, Trump dismissed the U.S. intelligence assessment, stating "things happen" and that the crown prince "knew nothing about it." During the visit, Trump and bin Salman discussed and planned to unveil several agreements, including Saudi Arabia's commitment to invest billions of dollars in the United States, particularly in technology, AI, and rare earth materials, with the crown prince suggesting investments could reach $1 trillion.
A joint security agreement was also discussed. A significant announcement was President Trump's agreement to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a move that raised concerns among security analysts about the potential for the technology to fall into the hands of China and erode Israel's military advantage in the region.
The crown prince also indicated a short-term investment of $50 billion in U.S.-manufactured semiconductor chips and alluded to future civil nuclear deals, though he stated these were not urgent given Saudi Arabia's oil and gas reserves. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated that the Khashoggi killing was a "huge mistake" and "painful" for Saudi Arabia, assuring that investigations were conducted and the system improved to prevent recurrence, but did not directly address his alleged approval of the operation.
He also indicated Saudi Arabia's desire to participate in the Abraham Accords but stressed the need for a clear path to a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians. The crown prince also committed Saudi Arabia to financially contribute to rebuilding efforts in Gaza.
Trump also addressed concerns about his family's business dealings in Saudi Arabia, stating he had no involvement in the Trump Organization's expansion there, having handed over management to his sons, though ethics experts still expressed concerns. The visit, marked by pomp and ceremony, underscored the close relationship between Trump and bin Salman, highlighting the president's perceived priorities in valuing their alliance.
