Trump Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Saudi Crown Prince

Fighter Jets, Billion-Dollar Deals, and High-Stakes Diplomacy

President Donald Trump welcomed Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House on Tuesday, marking the prince’s first visit to the United States since 2018.

The arrival was nothing short of cinematic: a Marine band played, mounted officers carried the Saudi and American flags, and a squadron of advanced fighter jets soared overhead in a precise V formation. Mr. Trump greeted the crown prince with a firm handshake and a friendly pat on the back before heading inside the White House.

The visit comes amid ambitious agendas on both sides. Prince Mohammed is eyeing a purchase of F-35 stealth fighter jets—a move supported by Mr. Trump despite Pentagon concerns over the sensitive technology, particularly given Saudi Arabia’s security ties with China. Beyond military hardware, the two leaders are expected to ink deals on artificial intelligence, nuclear energy cooperation, and mutual defense agreements.

For Mr. Trump, the visit is also a chance to highlight Saudi Arabia’s promise to invest $600 billion in the U.S., a pledge first announced during his Riyadh trip in May.

While the crown prince is not the head of state—King Salman holds that title—the U.S. is providing the trappings of a state visit. A black-tie dinner with lawmakers and business leaders awaits him, followed by a joint trip to a Washington business investment conference.

Key takeaways from the visit:

• Military Sales: Plans to sell American military technology require congressional approval and face potential criticism from allies like Israel, while concerns linger over Chinese access.

• Business Ties: The Trump Organization, in partnership with Saudi developer Dar Al Arkan, recently launched cryptocurrency-backed real estate projects, and Jared Kushner’s private equity firm has received $2 billion from a fund led by the crown prince.

• Middle East Diplomacy: Trump officials are hopeful Saudi Arabia may join the Abraham Accords following the October Gaza truce, but the crown prince has remained cautious on regional peace initiatives.

With fighter jets in the sky and billion-dollar deals on the table, Washington’s corridors of power are once again buzzing with the high-stakes dance of diplomacy and commerce.