Former U.S. President Donald Trump kicked off his Middle East tour in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, receiving a royal welcome from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The day featured fighter jet escorts, a ceremonial reception, and a state dinner at Diriyah.
During the visit, Trump announced a landmark $600 billion investment agreement, including $142 billion in defense deals and $100 billion in tech and infrastructure investments from companies like Google, Oracle, Uber, and DataVolt. U.S. exports from GE, Boeing, and other firms were also included.
Trump was joined by top business leaders such as Elon Musk, Amazon’s Andy Jassy, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman. The visit emphasized strengthening economic ties and showcased Saudi Arabia’s growing influence.
In a foreign policy speech, Trump adopted a softer tone on Iran and expressed openness to easing sanctions on Syria. He also praised the crown prince, calling him “an incredible man” and joking the $600 billion could become a trillion.
Trump now continues his regional tour in Qatar and the UAE.