TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - On Tuesday-Wednesday, May 13-14, 2025, United States President Donald Trump visits the Middle East.
During his first stop in Saudi Arabia, Trump was warmly welcomed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, and prominent business leaders from the United States and Saudi Arabia.
During his visit, Trump successfully secured investment commitments from Saudi Arabia worth hundreds of billions of dollars and took steps to improve relations with Middle Eastern countries. One of these steps involved softening his stance towards Iran, though remaining firm after the change of regime in the region.
Here are some key points from Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, as reported by The Hill.
1. Warm Welcome from the Crown Prince
Trump was welcomed with a magnificent reception at King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh. As Air Force One approached Saudi Arabia, Saudi F-15 fighter jets escorted the aircraft until landing. Upon arriving at the airport, Trump walked on a lavender carpet toward the Royal Terminal, where MBS welcomed him.
On the journey to the royal palace, Trump's motorcade was accompanied by Arabian horse riders and resounding trumpets. Afterward, Trump attended a coffee reception with the Crown Prince and hundreds of other guests.
In the evening, Trump attended a state dinner at the Diriyah At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage site, illuminated by golden yellow lights. There, Trump and MBS watched a display of Arabian horses and the alternating flags of the United States and Saudi Arabia.
2. Elon Musk's Presence
Renowned technology figure Elon Musk also attended the morning coffee, lunch, and state dinner. Trump introduced Musk to the Crown Prince, and they spoke for several minutes.
Musk leads the Government Efficiency Department and has been by Trump's side during the early months of their second term, accompanying him on Air Force One flights and cabinet meetings. His special status will end on May 30, and Tesla's board has pressured Musk to return to leading the company.
More than 30 prominent business and technology leaders also attended the lunch, marking a focus on investment and financial deals during the visit.
Other prominent business figures present included FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.
This gathering reflects Trump's focus on securing investments and business in the United States and portraying Saudi Arabia's significant wealth and influence.
3. Offer to Iran
In a major foreign policy address in Riyadh, Trump offered an "olive branch" to Iran, a longtime adversary of the U.S., in discussions about Tehran's nuclear program.
At the U.S.-Saudi investment forum, Trump said he would be very happy if his country could make a deal with Iran.
He added that his administration would make the Iran region safer if they accepted the offer. He said if Iran's leadership rejects the "olive branch" and continues to attack their neighbors, the U.S. would apply enormous maximum pressure.
Officials from Iran and the U.S. have held discussions in recent weeks regarding Tehran's nuclear program. During his first term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Obama-era nuclear deal that provided sanctions relief in exchange for limitations on Iran's nuclear program.
In his statement, Trump also expressed an optimistic view of the future of the Middle East. He announced a readiness to ease sanctions on Syria at the urging of allies, stating, "We want to give them a fresh start" after the fall of the Bashar Assad regime and years of civil war.
Trump also agreed to greet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, while in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, May 15, 2025, according to White House officials, signaling openness to the new government.
4. Outcomes of the Investment Forum
Trump secured commitments of $600 billion in investments from Saudi Arabia to the U.S., first announced by the Crown Prince a few days after Trump's inauguration. The agreements reached on Tuesday included $142 billion in defense and security contracts that would provide advanced war machinery from dozens of U.S. companies to Saudi Arabia.
Trump said Saudi Arabia will invest up to trillions of dollars.
As part of the agreement, Saudi company DataVolt will proceed with a $20 billion investment plan for artificial intelligence data centers and energy infrastructure in the U.S. Meanwhile, major companies such as Google, Oracle, Salesforce, and Uber will invest $80 billion in technology in both countries.
This also includes infrastructure projects that U.S. companies carry out, like Hill International, Jacobs, Parsons, and AECOM in Saudi Arabia, including at King Salman International Airport, with U.S. service exports reaching $2 billion.
Other exports include gas turbines and energy solutions from GE Vernova worth $14.2 billion, and Boeing 737 8 passenger aircraft for AviLease worth $4.8 billion, according to the White House. Additionally, healthcare company Shamekh IV Solutions will invest $5.8 billion, including building a factory in Michigan, to launch a high-capacity infusion facility.
This investment partnership will also establish special sector funds, including a $5 billion energy investment fund, a $5 billion defense and aerospace technology fund, New Era, and a $4 billion global sports fund, Enfield Sports.
5. Warm Relationship Between Trump and the Crown Prince
Trump praised the Crown Prince and stated that their relationship is very good. He referred to the Crown Prince as an "extraordinary man" and expressed his commitment to maintaining the U.S.-Saudi partnership.
However, the Crown Prince faces major controversy regarding human rights records, particularly the case of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The CIA assessed that the Crown Prince ordered the murder, but during his first term, Trump largely defended the Crown Prince.
Editor's Choice: Deals Worth Billions: What Trump Secured in the Middle East
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