RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — President Donald Trump arrived Tuesday for the first leg of his Middle East tour in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, where he was welcomed with a pomp-and-circumstance-filled ceremony and a high-powered lunch with top business leaders and government figures before giving a speech at an investment forum.
After Air Force One landed in Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport — escorted by Saudi Arabian F-15s — Trump emerged, pumped his fist in the air then stepped off the plane on to a lavender carpet, where Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greeted him with a jovial, two-handed handshake — a contrast to the seemingly reluctant fist bump Salman once gave to his predecessor, President Biden.
Trump and the prince then walked to an ornate hall where they engaged in a traditional coffee welcome ceremony, the first phase of a two-day visit suffused similar displays of pageantry.
Once done, Trump drove in the limousine known as “The Beast” flanked by a phalanx of horsemen carrying Saudi and American flags, then stood before an honor guard and a military band that played through “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the Saudi national anthem.
JOINING TRUMP was a raft of officials, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff; along with dozens of business leaders.
Later, at a lavish lunch in Al-Yamamah Palace, Trump and the crown prince began an hourlong glad-handing session featuring Saudi royals, officials and military commanders.
