Press Review: Trump Saudi Visit
Press Review: Saudi Media Frames Trump’s Riyadh Visit as Strategic Turning Point
Saudi outlets hail the visit as ‘historic’, highlighting Riyadh’s rising geopolitical clout and deepening US-Saudi partnership.
President Donald Trump’s official return to Riyadh as his first overseas visit in his second presidential term has been widely welcomed in the Saudi press, with prominent outlets describing it as a "historic moment" and a reaffirmation of the Kingdom’s central role in US foreign policy.
Across Saudi media, the visit was framed as both a diplomatic endorsement of Saudi Arabia’s global standing and a continuation of a strategic alliance rooted in shared interests, economic interdependence, and mutual regional security concerns.
A Historic Return and Affirmation of Strategic Ties
Asharq Al-Awsat, the influential Saudi-owned international daily, led its coverage with the headline: “Trump in Riyadh on a ‘Historic’ Visit”. The paper emphasised the symbolic significance of President Trump choosing Riyadh once again as his first foreign destination, just as he had in 2017. Political coverage described the visit as “an indication of strategic continuity and trust”, underlining the deep personal rapport between Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In an exclusive interview with the newspaper, Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organisation, declared: “This tour… carries a clear message that the Gulf is no longer just a source of energy, but a partner in shaping security and prosperity on a global scale.” He added that his father “respects the leadership in Riyadh and sees the Kingdom as a friend in difficult times.”
Okaz, a widely read Saudi daily, echoed this sentiment. Writer Hani Al-Zahiri described the visit as “a reaffirmation of the golden age of Saudi-American partnership,” arguing that the political climate today reflects a “rare consensus of vision between Riyadh and Washington.”
Al-Watan also highlighted the timing and symbolism of the visit, noting that the Kingdom remains “the launch point for strategic realignment in the Middle East.” Columnist Abdullah Al-Zazzan stressed that “this is not diplomacy for optics; this is diplomacy built on decades of trust and tested cooperation.”
Strategic Confidence and Expanding Influence
Security and diplomatic analysts across the Saudi press viewed the visit as a reflection of growing American recognition of Riyadh’s stabilising role across multiple regional flashpoints.
In Asharq Al-Awsat, US State Department spokesperson Samuel Warburg praised Saudi efforts in mediation and de-escalation: “We value the Kingdom’s diplomacy in Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, and its continued role in securing global energy markets.”
Al-Riyadh took this further, with Adel Al-Harbi describing Saudi Arabia as “a rising centre for peace diplomacy, where global actors now look for solutions, not just resources.” He pointed to the Kingdom’s role in talks between India and Pakistan, and efforts to defuse tensions in Africa and the Red Sea.
Former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney, also quoted in Asharq Al-Awsat, said Trump’s choice to visit Riyadh first “sends a clear message about where Washington places its confidence.”
Mishari Al-Dhaidi, in a reflective opinion piece for Asharq Al-Awsat, compared the Kingdom of 2025 with that of Trump’s 2017 visit. “Back then, Vision 2030 was an idea. Today it is a living transformation—economically, socially, and geopolitically,” he wrote. “Saudi Arabia is not being visited. It is being sought out.”
Investment, Vision 2030 and Long-Term Alignment
Much of the coverage also emphasised the economic dimension of the visit. Asharq Al-Awsat reported that trade between the US and Saudi Arabia reached $32 billion in 2024, and that Saudi holdings of US Treasury securities now stand at $140 billion. The newspaper cited American interest in the Public Investment Fund’s growing role in global markets, with over $40 billion in investments across sectors such as energy, technology, and logistics.
In Al-Riyadh, economic commentator Khalid Al-Mutrafi interpreted the visit as “proof that Riyadh is no longer merely a strategic ally—it is a partner in shaping the next global economic model.” He pointed to the Saudi-American Investment Forum, held in tandem with the visit, as a platform for “executive-level cooperation, not just government statements.”
Okaz underscored the alignment between Vision 2030 and the Trump administration’s pro-investment approach. “This is not aid. This is opportunity,” wrote one editorial. “Saudi Arabia today offers advanced infrastructure, political stability, and a reform agenda that invites serious economic engagement.”
Eric Trump confirmed this sentiment in his remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat: “This region is no longer waiting to be told the future—it is helping to build it.”