President Donald Trump’s Business-like Visit to Riyadh
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: President Donald Trump successfully secured a $600 billion investment commitment from Saudi Arabia in the United States following a grand welcome by the oil-rich nation at the start of his Gulf tour. The trip, described as “historic” by the White House, will also take Trump to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Lavish Reception and Historic Agreement
Trump was greeted with a striking display of several Saudi F-15 fighter jets as he approached Riyadh, marking the beginning of his tour. Upon arrival, Trump was warmly received by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who later signed an agreement with the president covering energy, defense, mining, and other sectors, as per Saudi state television.
The United States agreed to sell Saudi Arabia a nearly $142 billion arms package, according to a White House fact sheet, calling it “the largest single U.S. arms deal ever.”
Economic Focus and Business Leaders Accompanying Trump
Trump emphasized the business aspect of his visit, stating, “We have the greatest business leaders in the world here today, and they’re going to leave here with a lot of checks.” He added, “For the United States, we’re probably talking about two million jobs.”
The White House claimed that Saudi company DataVolt would invest $20 billion in U.S.-based AI-related companies, and technology firms like Google would make investments in both countries. This development is positive for Saudi Arabia, which has long faced restrictions on advanced U.S. technology.
Accompanied by prominent American business leaders, including billionaire Elon Musk, Trump will proceed from Riyadh to Qatar on Wednesday and then to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. Notably, he has not scheduled a stop in Israel, raising questions about the Jewish state’s position in Washington’s priorities during this trip.
Investment Forum and Key Meetings
During Trump’s visit, Riyadis hosted a Saudi-U.S. investment forum attended by notable figures such as Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock; Stephen A. Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone; and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
Musk briefly conversed with Trump and Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a palace reception for the U.S. president. Alongside Trump, Musk and other prominent American business leaders, including Musk himself (CEO of Tesla and SpaceX) and Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI), shared a meal with Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
A large delegation of Saudi royalty and business leaders eagerly awaited the opportunity to greet Trump.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Donald Trump? The 45th and current president of the United States.
- Why is his visit to Saudi Arabia significant? Trump aims to strengthen economic ties between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, securing substantial investments and arms deals.
- Who accompanied Trump during his visit? Prominent American business leaders, including Elon Musk, joined Trump on this trip.
- What is the significance of the $600 billion investment commitment? This substantial pledge is expected to create two million jobs in the U.S., emphasizing economic growth and cooperation.
- Why is Israel not on Trump’s itinerary? The absence of an official visit to Israel has sparked speculation about its position in Washington’s priorities during this Middle Eastern tour.
