US President Donald Trump will welcome Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to Washington on Tuesday in a meeting where much is on the line. The talks are expected to advance a potential sale of advanced US F-35 fighter jets to the kingdom. The visit also renews scrutiny of the Trump family’s extensive business interests in Saudi Arabia, adding political and personal weight to the high-profile engagement.
During the visit, US and Saudi leaders are expected to hold formal discussions and conclude the day with a White House dinner hosted by First Lady Melania Trump.“We’re more than meeting, we’re honoring Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince.” Trump had said last week, as cited by CNN.
Potential sale of F-35 fighter jets
A day before hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a day of diplomacy, Trump said on Monday that he intends to approve the sale of US-made F-35 fighter jets to the kingdom.“I will say that we will be doing that, we’ll be selling the F-35s,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.The fighter jets are primarily manufactured by US defence contractor Lockheed Martin and typically cost between $80 million and $110 million each, reports the Guardian.“The Saudis will be spending a lot of money tomorrow on the US,” a senior White House official was quoted as saying by Reuters. The F-35, equipped with stealth technology that enables it to evade enemy radar, is widely regarded as the world’s most advanced fighter jet. Israel has operated the aircraft for nearly a decade, establishing several squadrons and remaining the only country in the Middle East to field the system.The question of F-35 sales has also been tied to broader diplomatic negotiations. The Biden administration had previously considered supplying the jets to Saudi Arabia as part of a larger agreement that included the possibility of Riyadh normalizing relations with Israel, but those talks ultimately stalled.
Artificial intelligence and data centres
According to a White House statement, Saudi Arabia will invest $20 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) and AI data centers in the United States, as cited by Al Jazeera. Additionally, US firms including Hill International, Jacobs, and Parsons have secured contracts to develop major infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia. These include the King Salman International Airport and other large-scale projects valued at around $2 billion.Trump has also sought to build a close relationship with the kingdom’s de facto ruler, aiming to encourage Saudi Arabia to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, a move that would represent a major milestone for his signature Abraham Accords, a longstanding priority for the president.
Private deals in the spotlight
In the recent past, Trump and his family have secured at least nine deals with Saudi investors, funneling millions into his golf properties, tens of millions into his licensing business, and billions into private-equity funds, as reported by Forbes. In 2024 alone, Trump and his extended family reportedly earned around $50 million from Saudi-linked transactions.On the eve of bin Salman’s visit, the company announced another venture with its Saudi-linked partner Dar Global: a Trump International Hotel in the Maldives, slated to open in 2028.Billed as the world’s first “tokenized” hotel project, the 80-villa resort will allow investors to use digital currencies to finance their stakes, according to a Monday press release, as cited by ABC News. Last month, the Trump Organization unveiled plans for a Trump Plaza in Saudi Arabia, featuring “a vibrant green spine inspired by Central Park” at the heart of Jeddah. Promotional materials highlight gleaming glass towers with the Trump name and vintage images of a young Trump.
The Khashoggi question
This visit highlights Saudi Arabia’s role as a key ally for the Trump administration and its warm reception at the White House. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last visited Washington in 2018, just months before the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Turkey. A subsequent CIA assessment concluded that the prince had likely ordered the assassination, though he has consistently denied any involvement.“It’s very painful for me. It will be better if Jamal was here and receiving the crown prince by himself and meet with him and share with him his vision and mission, and all of his ideas,” Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, the widow of Jamal Khashoggi was quoted as saying by CNN.
