Trump’s Warm Welcome Gives Saudi Prince ‘Lopsided’ Rewards

Donald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Nov. 18.
Photographer: Nathan Howard/Politico/Bloomberg

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By Eric Martin and Natalia Drozdiak

November 18, 2025 at 11:32 PM UTC

Updated on

November 19, 2025 at 8:47 AM UTC

US President Donald Trump gave Saudi Arabia’s crown prince a lavish reception in Washington, offering a defense agreement that includes cutting-edge warplanes and absolving him of the murder of a newspaper columnist in 2018.

Less clear was what Trump got in return.