WASHINGTON – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived at the White House on Tuesday for a high-profile meeting with US President Donald Trump, marking his first visit to the United States since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
President Trump personally welcomed the Crown Prince MBS outside the White House, greeting him with a handshake as senior officials from both countries looked on. After a brief exchange, the two leaders observed a fly-past of aircraft before proceeding inside, where formal discussions are scheduled to take place in the Oval Office.
In an unexpected development, a senior official confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Saudi football club Al-Nassr, is also present inside the White House.
According to US officials, the meeting is expected to include negotiations on a wide range of agreements aimed at strengthening defense and economic cooperation. These include potential U.S.–Saudi defense procurement deals, expanded Saudi investment in American artificial intelligence infrastructure, and increased collaboration on civil nuclear energy.
The agreements are anticipated to be part of Saudi Arabia’s previously announced commitment to invest $600 billion in the United States.
President Trump has already expressed support for the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, while Riyadh continues to seek a formal security guarantee from Washington. U.S. officials say the administration is working to advance the investment pledges announced during the President’s visit to Saudi Arabia in May.
