President Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to the White House, hailing him as a protector of human rights and a frequent phone friend. However, he rejected a U.S. intelligence report finding that the crown prince ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
Trump welcomed the crown prince with military honors, including horseback riders and a flyover by F-35 fighter jets, as he sought to maintain strong relations with Saudi Arabia during a tumultuous period in the Middle East. Despite questions about Khashoggi’s murder, Trump said that the crown prince knew nothing about it and defended him against criticism.
Trump also used the visit to showcase his vision for increasing investment from Saudi Arabia, including up to $1 trillion of potential investment into the United States. However, analysts say that securing a commitment on normalizing relations with Israel may require more effort in the future.
The Trump family business has also benefited from its ties with Saudi Arabia, with Jared Kushner’s private equity firm taking billions of dollars from a fund led by the crown prince.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/us/politics/trump-saudi-crown-prince-visit.html