As President Donald Trump reached Saudi Arabia to a purple carpet welcome, he was seen introducing Elon Musk to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — in a video that has gone viral. Elon Musk was not the only tech leader accompanying Trump.His bête noire, Open AI chief Sam Altman, was also there. Crown Prince MBS shook hands with Musk, Altman and Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang. The business leaders will attend a US-Saudi investment forum today.The arrival of President Trump — his first foreign trip in his second term — was celebrated with trumpets as Trump and MBS crossed an outdoor lavender carpet to attend the ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh. Trump saluted during the US national anthem, then put his hands at his sides for the Saudi one. Saudis announced in 2021 that they would roll out purple carpets, instead of red, as lavender is associated with blossoming wildflowers and is a symbol of Saudi generosity.“I really believe we like each other a lot,” Trump said of the crown prince, touting their “tremendous relationship” and calling the visit an “honor.” Trump said he was “so impressed” with MBS, calling him “very wise, wise beyond his years.”Ahead of his crucial Middle East visit, Trump said on Monday that the Iranians were being reasonable and talking intelligently in negotiations with Washington over nuclear program. “Soon I’m heading over to the Middle East, and we’ll see what we’ll do in regards to Iran. I think you have some very good things happening there,” Trump told reporters.“They can’t have a nuclear weapon, but I think they’re talking very intelligently. We are in the midst of talking to them, and they’re acting very smart and very intelligent,” he said. “I think they’re being very reasonable thus far.”
