MBS pushes Saudi normalization with 'Israel' during White House visit
3 Min Read
Saudi Crown Prince visits Trump at White House, pushes normalization with “Israel”, discusses Khashoggi murder, and promises $1 trillion in US investments.
-
President Donald Trump welcomes Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman used his visit to the White House on Tuesday to promote normalization with “Israel”, further aligning Riyadh with US policy priorities at the expense of Palestinian rights.
Sitting alongside US President Donald Trump, the crown prince declared his intention to join the so‑called Abraham Accords, conditioning the move on vague assurances of a future Palestinian state.
“We want to be part of the Abraham Accords. But we also want to be sure that we secure a clear path of two-state solution,” he said, without specifying how Saudi Arabia would ensure such a path after years of US and Israeli obstruction.
MBS says Khashoggi assassination a 'huge mistake'
The visit marks his first US trip since the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, widely believed to have been carried out on his orders amid an intense crackdown on dissent. Mohammed bin Salman was welcomed with military fanfare, including a jet flyover, and a symbolic endorsement from Washington.
When asked about the Khashoggi killing, Trump minimized the journalist’s murder, calling him “extremely controversial” and suggesting others didn’t like him.
Mohammed bin Salman labeled the assassination a “huge mistake”, continuing to deny personal responsibility despite findings by international investigators.
The US president also praised his guest’s record, even claiming, “What he’s done is incredible, in terms of human rights.”
The remark stands in stark contrast to reports documenting torture, executions, mass detentions, and the catastrophic Saudi-led war on Yemen.
On foreign investment and family business
The crown prince boasted that Saudi Arabia would boost investments in the US to nearly $1 trillion, reinforcing a relationship heavily built on arms deals and financial leverage.
"I believe, Mr. President, in today and tomorrow, we can announce that we are going to increase that $600 billion to almost $1 trillion for investment, real investment, and real opportunity," the prince said, assuring Trump of a major investment boost.
Trump reacted with enthusiasm to the pledge, showcasing once again the transactional nature of a partnership indifferent to human rights concerns.
Trump also dismissed allegations of corruption and self‑interest related to his family’s expanding business deals in Saudi Arabia, saying, “I have nothing to do with the family business... What my family does is fine. They have business all over," he said, as his sons have profited significantly from Saudi contracts since Trump’s return to power.
Read more: 'Israel' may seek US guarantees over possible F-35 sale to Riyadh
