Overview
- Trump received Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with near–state honors and publicly said of Jamal Khashoggi’s 2018 murder, “He didn’t know anything,” urging reporters not to embarrass the guest.
- He endorsed a proposed F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia that still needs Congressional approval, drawing warnings about Israel’s qualitative military edge and risks of Chinese access to U.S. technology.
- MBS said Saudi commitments in the U.S. will increase from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion, with a Kennedy Center investment forum slated to highlight deals and AI infrastructure spending.
- The White House said the two governments issued a joint declaration on civil nuclear cooperation under strict nonproliferation standards.
- Human-rights groups criticized the red-carpet treatment and urged pressure for reforms, as a White House dinner drew high-profile attendees including Cristiano Ronaldo and Elon Musk.