“`html
Trump’s Saudi Ties Deepen Amidst Controversy and Business Expansion
Despite a long history of human rights concerns, the relationship between former President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin salman (MBS) has flourished, marked by meaningful business dealings and a notably conciliatory tone from the former president. This dynamic was on full display Tuesday,november 18,2025,when the two leaders met in the Oval Office,raising renewed questions about potential conflicts of interest.
For decades, the united States maintained a strong, albeit complex, relationship with the kingdom. Though, in recent years, Saudi Arabia’s human rights record – including its involvement in the war in Yemen and tensions with Qatar – coupled with its influence over global oil markets, created a more strained dynamic. That tension appeared to ease during the Trump presidency.
“Saudi Arabia, I get along with all of them,” Trump stated during a 2015 campaign stop. “They buy apartments from me. They spend $40 million, $50 million. Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much.” This sentiment, echoed repeatedly, underscores the financial connection at the heart of the relationship.
The financial ties between the Trump family and Saudi interests have grown increasingly intertwined, extending beyond direct purchases to include investments from state-owned entities like the saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) – which manages Saudi surplus funds under the direction of MBS – and collaborations with Saudi real estate developers.
Trump’s passion for golf has provided a especially visible avenue for these connections. Following the PGA Tour’s decision to distance itself from Trump after the January 6th attack on the Capitol, the LIV Golf league, owned by PIF, secured deals to host tournaments at Trump-owned golf courses. The league, known for its lucrative contracts with players, has already held seven events at Trump properties, with an eighth scheduled for 2026 outside Washington, D.C.
During a 2022 deposition related to New York Attorney general Letitia James’ civil fraud lawsuit, Trump suggested he could sell a Scottish golf course to Saudi Arabia for a significant profit, exceeding its actual value. He later declined to elaborate on the potential deal.
Beyond golf, Trump has pursued other real estate ventures with Saudi partners. He struck an agreement to develop multiple properties in collaboration with Dar Global, a Saudi firm, after leaving office. This partnership has expanded to include projects in Dubai,Qatar,Oman,Riyadh,and Jeddah,the gateway city to Mecca.
Ethics experts have consistently raised concerns about these overlapping interests, deeming them inappropriate. A recent proclamation, made just hours before MBS’s arrival in Washington, revealed a new Trump Organization project with Dar Global: a resort in the Maldives Islands, financed through cryptocurrency.
The relationship has been further complicated by the 2018 murder of Jamal khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of MBS. During his first term, Trump responded to the global outrage with a measured condemnation, stating, “This is a bad situation… We cannot let this happen to reporters, to anyone.”
However, during Tuesday’s meeting, Trump offered a starkly different perspective when questioned about Khashoggi’s death.”A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about, whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen,” he said, insisting MBS had no involvement – a claim contradicted by a CIA assessment that indicated MBS likely ordered the killing. He also accused the press of embarrassing his guest.
Trump dismissed concerns about the propriety of his financial relationship with Saudi Arabia, claiming, “What my family does is fine. They do business all over… They’ve done very little with Saudi Arabia actually, I’m sure they could do a lot.” This assertion stands in contrast to the growing portfolio of deals and the publicly stated financial benefits Trump has derived from his connections with the Kingdom.
