Trump Welcomes Saudi Prince, Celebrates $1 Trillion Investment Deal

Donald Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday. The meeting celebrated a new $1 trillion Saudi investment pledge a major boost for Trump’s economic and diplomatic agenda. The former US president praised the prince’s leadership and described their partnership as “strong and growing.”
Trump rolled out an extravagant welcome. Soldiers on horseback greeted the Saudi delegation, followed by a flypast of F-35 fighter jets. The aircraft, Trump said, would soon be sold to Riyadh as part of expanding defense cooperation. The grand ceremony reflected the close bond between the two leaders.
However, the event also revived controversy. Trump dismissed concerns over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He called the incident “a mistake” and suggested that “things happened,” defending the prince’s explanation.

Stronger Economic Ties

During their Oval Office meeting, Prince Mohammed confirmed plans to raise Saudi investments in the United States. “We will increase our commitment from $600 billion to almost $1 trillion,” he said. Trump smiled broadly and asked for confirmation, to which the prince replied, “Definitely.”
The announcement delighted Trump, who has made strengthening US Saudi relations a top priority. In addition, he has encouraged the kingdom to expand trade, technology, and energy partnerships.
Trump also took the prince on a private tour of the White House. They viewed new presidential portraits displayed near the Rose Garden. In typical fashion, Trump pointed out one showing Joe Biden as an “autopen” signature, joking about its authenticity.
Later, First Lady Melania Trump hosted a gala dinner in honor of the visiting royal. Among the guests was football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who now plays in Saudi Arabia.
Trump emphasized that strong ties with the Gulf kingdom are crucial for regional peace. He mentioned efforts to build on the Abraham Accords, encouraging Saudi Arabia to move closer to normalizing relations with Israel.
As the event ended, Trump hailed the partnership as “a new chapter” for both nations. The record-breaking investment pledge, he said, would “create jobs, drive innovation, and build trust.”