Trump Hosts Top American Business Titans, CEOs at Saudi Royal Court/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ American CEOs including Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Larry Fink joined President Donald Trump at Saudi Arabia’s royal court Tuesday during the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh. The high-profile gathering kicks off Trump’s multi-nation Gulf tour focused on strategic investment and economic cooperation. Saudi Arabia has pledged $600 billion in U.S.-bound deals, with talks of up to $1 trillion.
Trump, Musk, Altman & Fink Meet Saudi Royals: Quick Looks
- Trump launches Middle East tour with Saudi royal court visit.
- Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Larry Fink attend Riyadh summit.
- Business titans lined up to greet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- $600B in U.S. investment pledged by Saudi Arabia; $1T possible.
- CEOs from Amazon, IBM, Boeing, NVIDIA, Citigroup also present.
- U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum showcases deals in AI, defense, tech.
- Trump to headline summit alongside White House crypto czar.
- Talks underway on civil nuclear program, arms deals, economic ties.
Trump Hosts Top American Business Titans, CEOs at Saudi Royal Court
American Business Titans Join Trump in Riyadh: Deep Look
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — U.S. President Donald Trump received a warm welcome from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Tuesday as he began his latest term’s first high-stakes Middle East tour — joined by some of the most powerful American CEOs in tech and finance.
At the Saudi royal court in Riyadh, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink were among the American business leaders who lined up to greet the Saudi heir and President Trump. Their appearance signaled a shared commitment to deepening economic and technological ties between the two countries.
A Billion-Dollar Bond
The meeting took place ahead of a formal luncheon hosted by Prince Mohammed, and ahead of the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, which Trump is set to headline. The forum, held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, marks the symbolic continuation of a near-century-old alliance.
“When Saudis and Americans join forces, very good things happen,” said Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih.
Saudi Arabia has already pledged $600 billion in U.S.-bound investment, including major projects in AI, defense, clean energy, and stock market ventures. Trump has said he believes the kingdom may ultimately commit up to $1 trillion.
CEOs in the Room
Alongside Musk, Altman, and Fink were other heavyweights from American business:
- Amazon CEO Andy Jassy
- IBM CEO Arvind Krishna
- Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser
- NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang
- Boeing executive Kelly Ortberg
- Palantir CEO Alex Karp
- Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman
Several are slated to speak at the forum alongside U.S. crypto policy chief David Sacks and Saudi ministers.
Tech, Energy, and Strategic Vision
The summit arrives at a crucial time for both nations. As the global economy shifts, Saudi Arabia is betting heavily on artificial intelligence, clean tech, and digital infrastructure to diversify its economy beyond oil — and it’s turning to America’s innovators to help lead the charge.
Key topics discussed at the forum and surrounding meetings include:
- A potential U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear agreement
- Expanded defense cooperation and arms deals
- Joint ventures in AI, semiconductors, cloud computing
- Stock market access and financial services
OpenAI’s Sam Altman — whose company is spearheading global innovation in generative AI — reportedly discussed collaboration with Saudi research universities and sovereign wealth fund representatives.
Trump’s Gulf Itinerary
Following his engagements in Riyadh, Trump is expected to:
- Wednesday: Attend a Gulf Cooperation Council summit, then fly to Qatar for bilateral talks with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and visit the U.S. military’s Al Udeid Air Base.
- Thursday: Travel to Abu Dhabi, where he will meet with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Each stop is expected to emphasize economic diplomacy, arms cooperation, and strategic alignment in the broader Middle East — particularly around countering Iran and stabilizing energy markets.
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