Trump Welcomes Saudi Crown Prince to the White House With Full Ceremony

US President Donald Trump received Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday with a level of ceremony usually reserved for visiting heads of state, highlighting the importance Washington places on its relationship with Riyadh. The visit also drew attention for another reason, with football star Cristiano Ronaldo expected to attend parts of the day’s events.

The two leaders briefly stepped outside into the White House garden where they walked together and viewed a wall displaying portraits of former American presidents. Their conversation was not captured on camera but they were seen speaking informally as they moved through the grounds.

Reporters covering the visit described an unusually grand welcome. Moments before the crown prince arrived national anthems played across the grounds and cannons fired a salute. A formation of six United States fighter jets then flew over the White House, a gesture interpreted as a signal of the military cooperation likely to feature in their discussions. The jets were believed to include F35 aircraft, the same model Trump recently announced he intends to sell to Saudi Arabia.

Traditionally working visits to the White House involve far more modest arrivals, with visiting leaders driven quietly to the entrance of the West Wing. The ceremonial display given to Prince Mohammed instead resembled the greeting typically offered to kings, presidents and other heads of state. In Saudi Arabia’s case such honours are usually reserved for King Salman. The elevated reception underscored the central role Saudi Arabia plays for the Trump administration diplomatically, militarily and economically.

As the two leaders met at the north entrance of the White House they exchanged a short greeting, though their words were not audible. They paused for several seconds outside, looking up as another flyover took place above them. The visual display reinforced the themes of defence and strategic cooperation expected to dominate the meeting.

After this public moment the president and the crown prince entered the White House for their bilateral talks. As they walked inside Trump briefly placed a hand on the crown prince’s back in a gesture of welcome. Officials said the discussions would cover defence cooperation, energy ties, regional security and ongoing negotiations over advanced military equipment.

Observers noted that the scale of the reception reflected the administration’s desire to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia at a time of shifting alliances in the Middle East. The meeting is seen as a continuation of the close relationship Trump has cultivated with the kingdom’s leadership.