AU.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the arrival of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday afternoon for a visit that is drawing interest in Israel following Trump’s stated willingness to sell F‑35 jets to Saudi Arabia, and the assessment that he will press bin Salman to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel.
A red carpet was spread out in honor of the Crown Prince, who shook the U.S. president’s hand. Afterwards, the two looked to the skies as fighter jets, apparently F‑35s, participated in a fly‑by marking bin Salman’s arrival. After the reception and a tour at the White House, the leaders continued to the Oval Office.
Bin Salman says Saudi Arabia wants to be part of Abraham Accords, and to see a two-state solution
Welcoming ceremony for Bin Salman at the White House
After the reception, in a statement in the Oval Office, Trump complimented bin Salman and said that the two have been friends for a long time. "I'm very proud of the work he's done, it's amazing what he's doing on human rights," Trump said. Bin Salman is visiting the US for the first time since 2018 - the year in which he was accused by American intelligence of responsibility for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who opposed his regime. Trump was asked in the Oval Office about Khashoggi's murder, and defended bin Salman, saying that the crown prince had no knowledge of the intention to assassinate him.
The American president even claimed that Khashoggi was an "extraordinarily controversial" figure, and summed up his murder with the words: "Things happen."
In the Oval Office, bin Salman praised Trump's contribution "to world peace," and announced that Saudi investments in the United States in the coming years - which were supposed to be $600 billion - would increase to a trillion dollars.
Trump confirmed to reporters that Saudi Arabia will receive F-35 aircraft - the same model as the one Israel received - and said that Saudi Arabia is "a great ally, as is Israel." He said that Israel would be "very happy" about the deal to sell the F-35 to Saudi Arabia. The deal to sell the stealth aircraft is of great concern to Israel because it would end Israel's qualitative advantage in the skies of the Middle East.
Bin Salman also came to Washington to reach an agreement with the US on granting security guarantees, and Tuesday evening Trump announced in the Oval Office that the U.S. had reached a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia. Referring to a possible addition to the Abraham Accords, bin Salman said that Saudi Arabia is interested in joining the agreements, but also "wants to ensure a path to a Palestinian state" and is interested in a two-state solution, and peace "for Israel and the Palestinians."
This is the Crown Prince’s first U.S. visit since 2018 — the year in which Saudi journalist and regime‑critic Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by Saudi agents after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. U.S. intelligence later determined that bin Salman ordered the killing, and the incident triggered global shock and anger toward the Saudi heir‑apparent.
Bin Salman denied ordering Khashoggi’s killing but acknowledged the fact that he was responsible for the act, by virtue of being the de facto ruler of the kingdom. The festive reception he is being given at the White House is one of the signs of the restoration of relations between Washington and Riyadh following the Khashoggi murder.
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Trump and Bin Salman watch the F-35 fly-over from the White House
(Photo: Evan Vucci/AP)
The Crown Prince’s visit is intended to deepen security and economic cooperation between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Trump on Monday night ended speculation and confirmed that he intends to approve the giant deal under which Saudi Arabia will receive the F‑35 fighter jets. “They were great allies,” said Trump of the Saudis in a conversation with reporters in the Oval Office when asked if he will approve the sale. “They certainly like us a lot. Look at the situation in Iran, we destroyed their nuclear capability. Yes, I say that we will do that.”
Last week Trump said that the Saudis “want to buy a lot” of jets, noting that he was considering the issue. According to reports, Saudi Arabia has asked the Americans to purchase 48 F‑35 jets. In addition, the U.S. president reiterated his hope that the Saudis will join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel.
In addition to the sale of advanced combat jets to Saudi Arabia — a sale that will end Israel’s qualitative military edge in the skies of the Middle East — further deals are on the agenda. A senior White House official told Reuters that, during the visit, the parties are expected to announce deals in defense, manufacturing and technology.
Trump aims to realize Saudi Arabia’s commitment to invest $600 billion in the U.S. in the coming years, as agreed during Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May. “The Saudis will tomorrow spend a large sum of money on the U.S.,” a White House senior official told Reuters Monday. With regard to Trump’s wish to bring Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords, the official said: “It is very important to him that they join during his term in office, and so he has increased the pressure on the matter.”
Trump confirms in press conference that US will sell F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia
(Video: From X platform)
Bin Salman, for his part, is seeking U.S. security guarantees in light of events in the Middle East, and in addition wants access to artificial‑intelligence technology, and to advance an agreement regarding the civilian nuclear‑energy program. Reuters reported that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia are expected to announce during the visit cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear energy.
Today it was reported that, during the Crown Prince’s visit to the White House, Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for the Saudi club Al‑Nassr FCC, will also visit
The sources reporting Ronaldo’s arrival did not specify whether the Portuguese athlete is part of the Saudi delegation.
First published: 19:15, 11.18.25