Saudi Crown Prince Receives Trump as Middle East Tour Begins

Trump Begins Middle East Tour with Saudi Visit

President Donald Trump launched his four-day Middle East trip with a visit to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two discussed Iran’s nuclear program, the Gaza conflict, and oil prices. Trump was welcomed with a coffee ceremony and is set to attend a formal dinner and investment conference in Riyadh.

He will also meet with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders before departing. The trip highlights Trump's focus on economic ties, energy cooperation, and regional diplomacy. He’s expected to announce new deals, including arms sales and AI partnerships.

Tensions with Israel remain, as Trump excluded it from his itinerary and failed to inform them about key decisions, including halting airstrikes on Yemen's Houthis. Saudi Arabia signals it won’t pursue normalization with Israel without progress on Palestinian statehood.

Trump may also decide whether the U.S. will rename the Persian Gulf—an issue that could spark backlash from Iran.