President Donald Trump is set to welcome Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House this week with a full ceremonial reception and a formal dinner. Although the visit is not categorized as an official state visit — since the prince is not the formal head of state — he is widely regarded as the kingdom’s de facto leader. Trump aims to strengthen ties with Riyadh and push forward efforts for Saudi Arabia to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, a major goal in expanding the Abraham Accords.
This will be the crown prince’s first trip to Washington since 2018, marking a complete reset in U.S.–Saudi relations after tensions related to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The visit includes bilateral meetings, a black-tie dinner attended by business leaders and politicians, and discussions on new defense and security cooperation, including large purchases of American military equipment. At the same time, Saudi Arabia will host an investment forum at the Kennedy Center to connect U.S. companies with Saudi investors.
At the top of Trump’s agenda is progress toward a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, following the recent ceasefire in Gaza. While some Saudi demands — including stronger security guarantees and a credible path toward Palestinian statehood — remain unresolved, U.S. officials are optimistic about movement. The visit also carries a sensitive financial angle, as the Trump Organization and Jared Kushner’s investment fund maintain significant business ties with the kingdom.
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