President Donald Trump will welcome Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House on Tuesday. The visit marks the prince’s first trip to Washington since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The meeting signals a major reset after years of strained ties.
US intelligence agencies earlier concluded that the crown prince likely approved the Saudi operation that killed Khashoggi. Prince Mohammed continues to deny any role. Today, both leaders aim to move past the controversy and focus on strategic cooperation in the Middle East.
Trump plans to highlight billions of dollars in new defence and business deals. He also confirmed agreement to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. Some officials fear the sale could expose sensitive US technology to China. Others worry it could affect Israel’s military edge. Trump believes the move will help push Saudi Arabia toward normalizing relations with Israel.
Both leaders will discuss Gaza’s fragile ceasefire, Iran’s regional actions and the crisis in Sudan. Saudi Arabia also seeks clear US security assurances.
The kingdom plans major investments in US artificial intelligence and expanded cooperation on civil nuclear energy. An investment summit at the Kennedy Center will follow the state visit, featuring top US and Saudi companies.
