A New U.S.–Saudi Era What It All Means

Many people were shocked by some of the comments President Trump made today during his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman. There’s a lot to unpack here — from Trump’s admiration for “strong men,” to the upgraded status of the US–Saudi alliance, and the broader impact of the Trumpism era on American foreign policy.

The Main Takeaways From The Meeting

The first major point of discussion was the prospect of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords. Trump wants this because the Saudis are the symbolic leaders of Sunni Islam, and their involvement would redefine the regional landscape. MBS, in diplomatic language, said he was willing to consider it but stressed that any deal would require a genuine two-state solution.

At the black-tie event — which even Ronaldo attended — Trump announced that Saudi Arabia would become a “major non-NATO ally,” joining nineteen other nations. The main benefit of this status is that it streamlines US military hardware acquisition while boosting arms sales and defence cooperation. On a more technical level, a strategic defence agreement was signed, with the US securing “new burden-sharing funds from Saudi Arabia to defray US costs,” and Riyadh formally designating Washington as its primary strategic partner.

As most Trump meetings go, theres also something funny involved: Trump said he would not downgrade the F-35 fighter jets as part of this cooperation, despite him saying Israel was pushing for that downgrade to preserve its qualitative military edge (this is an actual official US policy). Trump also praised recent US strikes on Iran but signalled openness to a new deal, with MBS offering to help broker it and calling it beneficial for regional stability.

Riyadh meanwhile pledged up to US$1 trillion in US investments across technology, AI, and critical materials, deepening economic ties and creating substantial job opportunities. But the details still remain mostly unknown.

Trumpism Foreign Policy = Financial Investment

The big display of hospitality is not without reason. Trump is a pragmatic businessman, and he views regions long mishandled by previous US administrations as untapped investment frontiers. The Middle East, in particular, represents boundless wealth that Washington either misused or tried to control through costly occupations and a chaotic web of alliances. Trump believes the US squandered its economic advantage over the past two decades, allowing China to dominate global trade and influence. His approach is a shift away from the old model of policing the world, and towards using money, elite relationships, and strategic investment to regain American influence, all while still selling the message of “America First.”

Don’t Be Surprised By This

If you were surprised by Trump’s defence of MBS regarding the assassination of American-Saudi journalist Kashoggi, don’t be. Donald Trump’s financial relationship with Saudi Arabia spans decades, beginning with property sales to Saudi royals and the kingdom in the 1990s and early 2000s. After his presidency, the scale expanded dramatically. Trump and his family struck at least nine Saudi-linked deals, funnelling millions into his golf resorts, licensing business, and new real-estate projects through firms like Dar Al Arkan. Jared Kushner secured a $2 billion investment from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund for his private-equity firm, while LIV Golf events brought further revenue to Trump properties. By 2024 alone, the family earned an estimated $50 million from Saudi-connected ventures, cementing a deeply lucrative partnership.

If you look more closely at Mohammed bin Salman, he has been heavily involved in international investments, particularly in US start-ups — most famously through the Public Investment Fund’s $3.5 billion stake in Uber in 2016. Much of his domestic and foreign policy is shaped around using Saudi Arabia’s vast resources, chiefly Aramco and the Public Investment Fund, as global investment instruments designed to diversify the economy, project influence abroad, and accelerate the kingdom’s rise on the world stage.

And lastly, we’ve discussed this many times, Trump admires leaders he sees as strong, decisive, and reflective of how he views himself. We’ve seen this with President Putin, President Erdoğan, and we’re clearly seeing the same dynamic with MBS. To understand this contrast, look at how other leaders have been received at the White House. Zelensky is the most obvious example, particularly during his first visit. You could also argue that al-Sharaa’s treatment – being ushered in through a back entrance — was another case, though that may have been driven more by domestic Christian political sensitivities than by Trump’s personal preferences.

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