Trump Begins Middle East Tour in Riyadh, Eyes $1 Trillion in Saudi Investment
U.S. President Donald Trump began a four-day Middle East tour on Tuesday with a high-profile welcome in Saudi Arabia, where Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greeted him warmly at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The visit underscores the administration’s focus on economic deals, energy cooperation, and regional diplomacy, even as tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the war in Gaza continue to simmer.
Following an elaborate arrival ceremony, including a Royal Saudi Air Force fighter jet escort for Air Force One, Trump joined Prince Mohammed for Arabic coffee at the airport before heading to the Royal Court for a business luncheon. The Saudi crown prince, smiling and animated, appeared at ease as he met with global business leaders such as Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk—all with Trump at his side.
Trump praised the growing economic partnership between the two countries and teased that Saudi investments in the U.S., already valued at $600 billion, could soon reach $1 trillion. “I really believe we like each other a lot,” Trump said during a bilateral meeting with the crown prince.
The visit is part of a broader effort by Trump to showcase the benefits of his transactional approach to foreign policy. On Tuesday, Trump will attend a U.S.-Saudi investment forum and is expected to announce deals spanning artificial intelligence, energy, and possibly new arms sales. Earlier this month, his administration approved the potential sale of $3.5 billion in air-to-air missiles to Saudi Arabia.
Energy remains a central focus. Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, have increased oil production to support Trump’s domestic economic goals, including curbing inflation. However, questions linger over how long OPEC+—with Saudi Arabia at its helm—can sustain elevated output, as Riyadh needs oil prices near $96 per barrel to balance its budget. Brent crude recently closed at $64.77.
Trump’s itinerary, which also includes Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, notably excludes Israel. His decision has raised eyebrows, especially amid ongoing conflict in Gaza and growing frustration from Israeli leaders over being left out of key U.S. decisions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not informed of Trump’s recent truce with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, who have continued to target Israeli interests.
Analysts see Trump’s Gulf-first approach as a reflection of shifting alliances. “The main message… is that the governments of the Gulf are stronger friends to President Trump than the current government of Israel at this moment,” said William Wechsler of the Atlantic Council.
Still, Trump is aiming to revive efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, building on the momentum of the Abraham Accords brokered during his first term. However, Riyadh has made it clear that any deal would require U.S. security guarantees, nuclear cooperation, and meaningful progress toward a Palestinian state—an increasingly distant prospect amid ongoing war.
Last week, Prince Mohammed met with Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh in Jeddah, signaling the kingdom’s continued interest in the Palestinian cause. Regional observers see the meeting as a subtle message to Trump: normalization with Israel will only move forward if there is progress toward Palestinian statehood.
As Trump pursues billion-dollar deals and photo ops in Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, the complexities of the Middle East remain ever present. With allies divided, regional conflicts unresolved, and global stakes high, Trump’s Middle East reset faces more pressure than promise.