Trump Rolls Out Red Carpet for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Amidst Ongoing Controversy Over Khashoggi's Assassination
In a lavish display of friendship, President Donald Trump welcomed Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, to the White House with a state lunch and dinner at the White House, followed by a high-profile appearance at a US-Saudi investment summit. The move marks a significant shift in Trump's policy towards the kingdom, one that has long been marked by its questionable human rights record.
In 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and Saudi dissident, was brutally murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by a team of 15 operatives linked to Prince Mohammed. The incident sparked widespread outrage and led to Trump's initial support for the prince, which many saw as hypocritical given his administration's subsequent efforts to distance itself from the kingdom.
Despite this, Trump has consistently backed the prince, even going so far as to shield him from US sanctions and pressure from Congress. In return, Saudi Arabia has become one of Trump's most important sources of business deals, including lucrative golf partnerships and real estate investments that have helped to revitalize his struggling brand.
Critics argue that this transactional approach to governance is morally bankrupt, allowing wealthy autocrats like Prince Mohammed to exploit the presidency for their own gain. "Trump views the world in terms of deals won or lost," one critic notes, adding that this approach has allowed Prince Mohammed to amass significant goodwill with the president, which he hopes to use to further his own interests.
Among those interests is a planned sale of billions of dollars worth of advanced US fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. The deal has sparked concerns in Washington about potential security risks, particularly given China's growing capabilities and its suspected espionage efforts on behalf of the kingdom.
Another key aspect of Prince Mohammed's visit is his bid for closer diplomatic ties with Israel, which Trump hopes will ultimately lead to a Nobel peace prize-worthy agreement. However, Saudi Arabia has vowed not to normalize relations with Israel unless it agrees to establish a Palestinian state, a demand that many see as unrealistic and unpalatable.
While the visit marks a significant moment in the tumultuous relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia under Trump's presidency, one thing is clear: this friendship has come at a steep cost. For Prince Mohammed, the primary goal of his visit is to secure defense cooperation with the US, including a deal that falls short of a formal treaty – something long sought by the kingdom.
The Trump Organization, meanwhile, stands to benefit from the influx of revenue generated by Saudi-backed golf tournaments and investments in his struggling real estate empire. In fact, one watchdog group notes that these payments to Trump's properties could potentially violate the Constitution's foreign emoluments clause.
Ultimately, the visit serves as a stark reminder of the corrupting influence of power and money on US governance under Trump's presidency – an influence that has allowed Saudi Arabia to reap significant benefits from his support.
In a lavish display of friendship, President Donald Trump welcomed Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, to the White House with a state lunch and dinner at the White House, followed by a high-profile appearance at a US-Saudi investment summit. The move marks a significant shift in Trump's policy towards the kingdom, one that has long been marked by its questionable human rights record.
In 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and Saudi dissident, was brutally murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by a team of 15 operatives linked to Prince Mohammed. The incident sparked widespread outrage and led to Trump's initial support for the prince, which many saw as hypocritical given his administration's subsequent efforts to distance itself from the kingdom.
Despite this, Trump has consistently backed the prince, even going so far as to shield him from US sanctions and pressure from Congress. In return, Saudi Arabia has become one of Trump's most important sources of business deals, including lucrative golf partnerships and real estate investments that have helped to revitalize his struggling brand.
Critics argue that this transactional approach to governance is morally bankrupt, allowing wealthy autocrats like Prince Mohammed to exploit the presidency for their own gain. "Trump views the world in terms of deals won or lost," one critic notes, adding that this approach has allowed Prince Mohammed to amass significant goodwill with the president, which he hopes to use to further his own interests.
Among those interests is a planned sale of billions of dollars worth of advanced US fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. The deal has sparked concerns in Washington about potential security risks, particularly given China's growing capabilities and its suspected espionage efforts on behalf of the kingdom.
Another key aspect of Prince Mohammed's visit is his bid for closer diplomatic ties with Israel, which Trump hopes will ultimately lead to a Nobel peace prize-worthy agreement. However, Saudi Arabia has vowed not to normalize relations with Israel unless it agrees to establish a Palestinian state, a demand that many see as unrealistic and unpalatable.
While the visit marks a significant moment in the tumultuous relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia under Trump's presidency, one thing is clear: this friendship has come at a steep cost. For Prince Mohammed, the primary goal of his visit is to secure defense cooperation with the US, including a deal that falls short of a formal treaty – something long sought by the kingdom.
The Trump Organization, meanwhile, stands to benefit from the influx of revenue generated by Saudi-backed golf tournaments and investments in his struggling real estate empire. In fact, one watchdog group notes that these payments to Trump's properties could potentially violate the Constitution's foreign emoluments clause.
Ultimately, the visit serves as a stark reminder of the corrupting influence of power and money on US governance under Trump's presidency – an influence that has allowed Saudi Arabia to reap significant benefits from his support.
or the blatant disregard for human rights and free speech in Saudi Arabia 
. The guy's just using politics as a way to get rich and his ego is just going to keep growing 
. It's like, what's next? Selling US military tech to Putin or Erdogan? 
The whole thing just reeks of corruption and crony capitalism. At least we can be sure that Trump's pockets will be well-lined by all the deals he makes with Saudi Arabia 
...
... like, whats good with the guy?! 
Khashoggi's assassination is still fresh in peoples minds and he's getting all this love from Trump 
. Saudi Arabia is basically getting away scot-free 
! And Israel? Like, dont even get me started 
. Prince Mohammed thinks he can just swoop in and get a Nobel peace prize? 
. Trump needs to be held accountable for this friendship 
.
how can trump just roll out the red carpet for saudi crown prince mohammed like everything is fine after what happened to jamal khashoggi?? 
it's like he's more concerned about getting those sweet business deals than doing what's right for humanity 
thats some serious red flags right there. cant we prioritize our own country's safety over some fancy business deals? 
.
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. Perhaps this is an attempt to shore up support among certain segments of the electorate by presenting himself as a shrewd diplomat who can get tough deals done 
? It's not about the money, it's about the influence and power that comes with it. And let's be real, Trump is all about making deals... even if they're shady 
. The fact that he's willing to overlook Saudi Arabia's questionable human rights record just so he can get his hands on some lucrative business opportunities says a lot about his priorities 
. I mean, think about it - we've got a country selling billions of dollars worth of fighter jets to a kingdom with a questionable human rights record and a history of brutal suppression of dissent? It's like they're playing with fire here, folks! And what's in it for us, exactly? A bunch of backroom deals and sweetheart investments that are basically lining Trump's pockets 
, and the Palestinians are still waitin' for their promised state 
.
. It feels like Trump is more concerned with making deals than doing what's right for America or its values 
this whole thing just stinks of corruption and it's getting old