President Donald Trump basked in Saudi Arabia’s lavish royal welcome Saturday as he left behind, at least temporarily, the snowballing controversies dogging him in Washington. Trump rewarded his hosts with a $110 billion arms package aimed at bolstering Saudi security and a slew of business agreements.
“That was a tremendous day, tremendous investments in the United States,” Trump said during a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef.
The visit to the kingdom’s capital kicked off Trump’s first foreign trip as president, an ambitious, five-stop swing that will take him through the Middle East and into Europe. He is the only American president to make Saudi Arabia — or any Muslim-majority nation — his first overseas trip.
Trump arrived in Riyadh besieged by the fallout from his firing of FBI Director James Comey and more revelations about the federal investigations into his election campaign’s possible ties to Russia. Escaping Washington for the embrace of the Saudi royal family appeared to give Trump a boost.
After an overnight flight, the president was greeted at the airport by King Salman, which was notable given that the monarch did not show up last year to welcome President Barack Obama on his final visit to Saudi Arabia.
Trump descended the steps alongside first lady Melania Trump, who wore a black pantsuit and gold belt, but did not cover her hair in the ultra-conservative kingdom, in keeping with the traditions of Western delegations.
As Trump and the 81-year-old king, who was aided by a cane, walked along the red carpet, military jets swept the sky, leaving a red, white and blue trail. During a ceremony at the grand Saudi Royal Court, Salman awarded Trump the Collar of Abdulaziz al Saud, the kingdom’s highest civilian honor.
Trump bent down so the king could place the gold medal around his neck. Saudi Arabia has previously bestowed the honor on Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Obama.
Trump’s warm welcome reflected the degree to which Saudi Arabia had become disillusioned with Obama. The Saudis deeply distrusted Obama’s overtures to Iran and were frustrated by his restrained approach to the Syrian civil war.
As Trump arrived, Iranians had just re-elected Hassan Rouhani — one of Obama’s partners in the landmark accord aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions — for a second four-year-term as president, validating his push for greater freedoms and outreach to the wider world. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said he hoped Rouhani would use his new term “to begin a process of dismantling Iran’s network of terrorism.”
Trump made no substantial remarks on his first day abroad and spent most of his time shuttling between opulent palace ballrooms with the king. The two were overheard discussing natural resources and arms, and Salman bemoaned the destruction caused by Syria’s civil war.
The most tangible agreement between the two leaders was the $110 billion sale of military equipment to Saudi Arabia that is effective immediately and could expand up to $350 billion over 10 years. The deal includes tanks, combat ships, missile defense systems, radar and communications, and cybersecurity technology. The State Department said the agreement could support “tens of thousands of new jobs in the United States.”
Trump was joined on the trip by the CEOs of several major U.S. companies, which announced their own agreements with the Saudis. Among them was a $15 billion arrangement with GE focused on power, oil and gas, and health care.
The president was trailed on the trip by a large number of advisers, including Tillerson, chief of staff Reince Priebus and chief strategist Steve Bannon. Trump’s son-in law, Jared Kushner, and daughter Ivanka, both senior advisers, were also part of the official delegation.
Ivanka’s presence dominated Arabic Twitter traffic, with the phrase “bint Trump” — Arabic for daughter of Trump — trending.
The Saudis’ welcome appeared to lift the spirits of Trump’s beleaguered staff, ensnared in a seemingly endless cycle of negative stories involving Comey’s firing and the intensifying Russia investigations. After a lavish lunch with the Saudi delegation, Kushner high-fived national security adviser H.R. McMaster.
Later Saturday, Trump was greeted by a traditional troupe of Saudi drummers and sword-waving dancers. Trump smirked and bopped to the beat as he made his way through the crowd.
On Sunday, Trump and the king were to join more than 50 regional leaders for meetings focused on combating the Islamic State group and other extremists. The president was to give the signature speech of his trip, an address that aides view as counter to Obama’s 2009 speech in Egypt to the Muslim world. Trump has criticized Obama’s remarks as too apologetic for U.S. actions in the region.
Trump planned to urge unity in the fight against radicalism in the Muslim world, casting the challenge as a “battle between good and evil” and appealing to Arab leaders to “drive out the terrorists from your places of worship,” according to a draft of the speech obtained by The Associated Press.
The draft also notably did not contain the words “radical Islamic terror,” a phrase Trump repeatedly criticized his 2016 president rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton, for not using during last year’s campaign.
After two days of meetings in Saudi Arabia, Trump was scheduled to travel to Israel, meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican, attend a NATO summit in Brussels and join the world’s major industrial nations at a Group of Seven gathering in Sicily.
(AP)
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5 Responses
Which story is “fake” news. This story hear headlines an “arms package” which the story characterizes as a “sale”. But Haaretz headline (taken literally) talks about giving as opposed to selling:
> Trump Just Gave Billions of Dollars of Sophisticated Weapons to a State He Said Masterminded 9/11
From Freedom Daily:
Obama’s VERY ANNOYED When He Sees What Saudi King Just Gave Trump That He Thought Was For Him
When trump arrived in saudi arabia they showed the world how much more they love america compared to liberals.
After so many years of the world hating us because of the scumbag President Barack Hussein Obama trying to appease our enemies, while at the same time giving his back to our true allies. We now have a president all us red-blooded American patriots can be proud of.
When President Donald Trump touched down in Saudi Arabia earlier today all us Americans watching from home couldn’t believe our eyes. The Saudi King went out to welcome him himself. They pulled out all the stops, red carpet and all. It was a beautiful sight. One we haven’t seen since the days of Reagan’s “Peace Through Strength.”
There were more American flags in Saudi Arabia than there are in my whole home state of California. It was really a great thing to see. We are selling them a huge stockpile of arms but the Saudis are very committed to being our allies, as they had always been before Obama came along. They have made it very clear that for the first time in 8 years they finally trust as again. They, like the American people who supported and voted for Trump, know President Trump is a man of his word and that they won’t have to deal with a charlatan like Barry Obama, from Kenya, ever again.
The Saudi royal family, and government of Saudi Arabia have shown incredible respect and reverence for President Trump during his visit to Saudi Arabia today.
King Salman even went as far as bestowing onto him the honor that is given to only a select few Saudi citizens and even fewer foreigners. The Collar of Abdulaziz.
The order of Abdulaziz is awarded to citizens of Saudi Arabia and a few select foreigners for meritorious service to its Kingdom.
What’s even better about all this is the fact that not even former President Barack Hussein Obama was awarded this order. Although Obama went as far as to go to Saudi Arabia, and many other nations, to apologize for all the “wrongs” America as committed in the eyes of the anti-American Liberal Left.
Although an American President should bow to no one, in an action that infuriated most of us red blooded patriot Americans Barry Obama did just that in his 2009 apology tour, multiple times. And still, they passed up on giving this Kenyan this honor.
This all just goes to prove that when America is strong and respected things are better in the world. Every time America has shown weakness the world has been thrust into turmoil and chaos.
Although I am sure the left wing media will now start saying that President Trump also colluded with the Saudi’s to win the election against the political hack no one wanted, Crooked Hillary. The world is today a better and safer place, and we can all sleep better at night because of this fact.
God Bless President Donald Trump and our Military!
There’s no reason for Trump to mention “islamic radicalism” in the capital of Islam. It wouldn’t be diplomatic. In the USA, it’s important to recognize the enemy. The Saudis do. They are right there.
Oh arye you’re so funny. More flags than California? When the degenerate draft dodger leaves Saudi Arabia the flags will be gone, the ones in California will still be there.
So he goes to Eretz Yisroel, will tell them to cut out expanding”settlements”, won’t move the embassy and is going to Yad Vashem for 15 minutes! A chutzpah!
Arye
> not even former President Barack Hussein Obama was awarded this order
The order has many possible classes within it, but the order was never-the-less given to Obama in 2009.