Trump Receives Lavish Saudi Welcome: Golden Swords, Arabian Horses/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump was welcomed with grand pageantry in Saudi Arabia, including Arabian horses, golden swords, and American fighter jets. The visit marked a return to foreign diplomacy with a focus on business, not human rights. Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman publicly reaffirmed a personal alliance built on investment and mutual admiration.
Trump’s Royal Welcome Quick Looks
- Trump greeted with Arabian horses, golden swords, and F-15 escorts
- Crown Prince calls Trump “my dear President” at investment forum
- Campaign songs “God Bless the U.S.A.” and “YMCA” played
- Lavish luncheon attended by major U.S. business leaders
- Trump praises MBS as “my friend” and “incredible man”
- No mention of human rights or fossil fuel controversies
- Contrast stark with Biden’s low-key 2022 fist bump visit
- Trump calls U.S.-Saudi alliance “bedrock of prosperity”
- Investment-focused diplomacy dominates Trump’s second-term strategy
- Elon Musk, Ruth Porat, Jensen Huang among high-profile guests
Deep Look: Trump Given Red-Carpet Welcome in Saudi Arabia with Arabian Horses and Economic Pomp
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — President Donald Trump was met with a dazzling royal reception as he landed in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, greeted with golden swords, Arabian horses, and campaign anthems in a spectacle designed to reflect his deepening ties with the Saudi monarchy. The display marked a sharp contrast to the cool reception his predecessor received just three years ago and signaled a full-throttle diplomatic and economic alignment between the Trump White House and Riyadh.
As Air Force One descended toward Riyadh, the aircraft was flanked by six American-made F-15 fighter jets, symbolizing military strength and strategic alliance. On the tarmac, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman offered a rare show of respect by personally greeting Trump with a handshake and a ceremonial welcome featuring white Arabian horses bearing American and Saudi flags.
Inside the royal terminal, Trump participated in a traditional Arabic coffee ceremony, before being whisked away in his limousine, which passed by an honor guard wielding golden swords.
Personal Bonds and Public Praise
Trump’s return to the global stage was marked by warmth and grandeur.
“I really believe we like each other a lot,” Trump said to the crown prince as they sat on ornate golden chairs beneath massive chandeliers. Later, at a high-stakes U.S.-Saudi investment forum, Trump described MBS as “an incredible man” and “my friend.”
The feeling was mutual. Prince Mohammed referred to Trump as “my dear President,” while the event featured Trump’s signature campaign anthems —
“God Bless the U.S.A.” and “YMCA” — played for the crowd of dignitaries and investors.
Business First: $600 Billion in Deals Announced
The visit wasn’t just symbolic. The White House announced a sweeping $600 billion Saudi commitment to invest in the United States, including:
- A $20 billion AI infrastructure deal by DataVolt for U.S.-based data centers and energy systems
- A $142 billion defense agreement, the largest in U.S. history, covering air, space, and coastal capabilities
- An $80 billion technology initiative involving Google, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD, Uber, and others
- A cultural and conservation partnership with the Smithsonian National Zoo and Museum of Asian Art
According to Trump, the deals could create up to 2 million U.S. jobs and lay the foundation for “a new era of prosperity and security.”
Corporate Titans in Attendance
The luncheon guest list read like a who’s who of American industry:
- Elon Musk, tech billionaire and now a senior adviser to Trump
- Ruth Porat of Google
- Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone
- Jane Fraser of Citigroup
- Alex Karp of Palantir
- Jensen Huang of NVIDIA
Their presence symbolized the administration’s vision of “foreign policy through enterprise,” where economic alliances reinforce diplomatic strategy.
No Talk of Human Rights or Energy Reform
Noticeably absent from Trump’s agenda were issues that dominated past U.S.–Saudi interactions: human rights, press freedom, and fossil fuel dependence. There was no mention of the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a scandal that had chilled previous administrations’ dealings with MBS.
Instead, Trump praised the region’s economic transformation and touted Saudi Arabia as a model for what the Middle East could become when focused on commerce over conflict.
A Clear Contrast with Biden’s 2022 Visit
President Joe Biden’s 2022 visit to Riyadh was markedly more restrained. After labeling Saudi Arabia a “pariah,” Biden traveled there under political pressure to address high oil prices. His fist bump with MBS was widely scrutinized and symbolic of the strained relationship. That visit was business-focused but lacked the personal chemistry and visual pageantry seen this week.
Shortly after Biden’s departure in 2022, OPEC+ cut oil production, frustrating the White House and deepening tensions.
In contrast, Trump’s arrival was filled with warmth, deals, and symbolism, something not lost on Saudi business leaders.
“We don’t want people to lecture us,” said Mohammad A. Abunayyan, chairman of ACWA Power. “As it has happened in the past – what’s wrong and what’s right.”
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