Apple News Today Why Trump is rolling out the red carpet for the Saudi crown prince
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Nov 18, 2025 Matthew Martin, Saudi Arabia bureau chief for Semafor, dives into President Trump's upcoming meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He discusses the implications for U.S.-Saudi relations, focusing on potential defense deals and the Crown Prince's efforts to rebuild his international image post-Khashoggi. Martin also sheds light on Saudi Arabia's strategic use of Israel normalization as leverage for Palestinian concessions. Additional insights on FEMA's leadership crisis and the Louvre heist reveal vulnerabilities in securing cultural artifacts.
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Rehabilitation Through Diplomacy And Pageantry
- Mohammed bin Salman's White House visit signals a full rehabilitation effort after the Khashoggi fallout.
- The trip blends security, economics, and pageantry to restore his international standing.
Defense Deals Drive The Visit
- The core deliverable of the visit will likely be a defense agreement and possibly a mutual defense commitment.
- Military cooperation serves as the primary signal of renewed U.S.-Saudi strategic alignment.
F-35s And Big Saudi Investments
- Selling F-35s to Saudi would mark a notable U.S. shift since those jets are usually restricted to formal allies.
- Economic investments and business events will accompany the trip to deepen commercial ties.