Egypt Daily News – President Donald Trump received a grand royal welcome upon arriving in Saudi Arabia, the first stop on his high-stakes Middle East tour and the first major overseas trip of his second term. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) personally greeted Trump with an elaborate ceremony that featured a military display, mounted escorts for the presidential limousine “The Beast,” a royal purple carpet, and the national anthems of both nations.
Wearing a purple tie to mark the occasion, Trump engaged warmly with MBS as the two leaders participated in a formal coffee and tea ceremony before heading into their first round of talks at the royal palace. The reception was designed to impress and to signal Saudi Arabia’s readiness to strengthen its strategic and economic ties with Washington.
Top figures from Trump’s inner circle were in attendance, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The tone was upbeat, with handshakes, smiles, and pleasantries exchanged as both sides prepared for a day of diplomacy and business.
Trump is aiming to secure up to $1 trillion in business investments during this trip. Riyadh is reportedly preparing to pledge $600 billion in U.S.-bound investments over the next four years. The red-carpet treatment began even before Trump landed, with Saudi F-15 fighter jets escorting Air Force One as it approached Riyadh. Upon arrival, MBS led Trump to an ornate reception area, complete with navy-and-gold armchairs and refreshments.
Saudi Arabia is the first of three stops on Trump’s four-day Gulf tour, which will also include visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Across all three countries, Trump’s agenda includes the announcement of new economic deals, alongside discussions on complex geopolitical issues, including security and regional diplomacy.
One major goal for the U.S. is to persuade Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, the landmark normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations brokered during Trump’s first term. However, the ongoing war in Gaza, triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has complicated efforts. MBS has insisted that Saudi participation in the accords would require a viable pathway to Palestinian statehood, something that appears unlikely until the Gaza conflict is resolved.
A sign of cautious progress came with Monday’s release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, following a U.S.-brokered deal with Hamas.
On Tuesday, Trump turned his focus to promoting American business at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh. The event gathered some of the biggest names in global business, including Elon Musk, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Amazon’s Andy Jassy, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and executives from Boeing, Google, and Coca-Cola. The guest list also included CEOs from BlackRock, Citigroup, IBM, and major U.S. airlines like Delta, American, and United.
Trump is leveraging this forum to push for major Saudi investment in U.S. companies. Riyadh’s economic diversification strategy, Vision 2030, has already led to significant financial ties with American firms. NEOM Deputy CEO Rayan Fayez noted that about $1 billion is currently being invested in frontier technologies, with the majority going to U.S. companies. However, budget pressures and lower oil revenues have recently led Saudi Arabia to scale back some of its ambitions.
The U.S.-Saudi relationship remains deeply rooted in mutual interests: American military support in exchange for Saudi oil. The kingdom already holds over $100 billion in U.S. Treasury bonds and has invested $2 billion in a fund managed by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. Sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have committed more than $3.5 billion to Kushner’s fund.
Trump’s own business interests in the region have also expanded. Over the past year, Trump-branded residential towers have opened in Dubai and Jeddah, and a luxury golf resort bearing his name was launched in Qatar.
While Jared Kushner is not part of the current delegation, Eric and Donald Jr. continue to manage the family’s business operations.
Later this week, Trump will travel to Qatar and the UAE. Controversy surrounds a reported plan to accept a $400 million luxury Boeing jet from the Qatari royal family to replace the delayed delivery of the official Air Force One aircraft. Trump dismissed criticism, calling the jet “a very nice gesture” and saying only a “stupid person” would turn down such a gift.
Meanwhile, Saudi officials are reportedly pushing for a major U.S. arms package, including F-35 fighter jets and advanced air defense systems, contingent on delivery during Trump’s term. Sources say a potential deal could exceed $100 billion.
In the broader geopolitical arena, Trump’s administration continues to push for a ceasefire in Gaza and a new aid mechanism for Palestinians. While Israeli officials have publicly downplayed Trump’s decision to skip a stop in Israel, frustration is growing over the unresolved war and perceived shifts in U.S. priorities.
Recent Israeli military operations have weakened Iran-aligned groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, potentially giving Trump more leverage in regional diplomacy. Over the weekend, U.S. and Iranian negotiators met in Oman to discuss limiting Tehran’s nuclear program, with Trump warning of military action if diplomacy fails.
Steve Witkoff, expressed optimism last week about expanding the Abraham Accords. However, progress remains uncertain as long as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resists a permanent ceasefire and a Palestinian state—conditions Saudi Arabia now views as essential.
