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Trump Welcomes Saudi Crown Prince, Announces F‑35 Sale and Elevated Ally Status

The shift positions Riyadh for deeper U.S. ties under likely congressional scrutiny over arms and nuclear plans.

Overview

  • President Trump hosted Mohammed bin Salman with cavalry honors, cannon salutes and fighter‑jet flyovers in the crown prince’s first White House visit since the Khashoggi fallout.
  • Trump said the prince "knew nothing" about Jamal Khashoggi’s 2018 murder, contradicting a U.S. intelligence finding and drawing criticism from human‑rights groups and Khashoggi’s widow.
  • The administration moved to sell F‑35 stealth jets to Saudi Arabia, ending Israel’s regional exclusivity on the aircraft and setting up likely review by Congress and allies.
  • At a White House gala, Trump declared Saudi Arabia an "important non‑NATO ally," signaling a tighter security partnership alongside broader economic and defense deals.
  • Talks covered a potential civilian nuclear framework subject to strict oversight, while MBS pledged up to $1 trillion in U.S. investments and discussed possible entry into the Abraham Accords conditioned on a path to a Palestinian state.