The most controversial U.S.–Saudi reunion since the Khashoggi killing is now underway in Washington.
*Here’s what’s happening
Read this especially if you’re tracking congressional oversight, transparency battles, or how both parties are positioning themselves around the Epstein fallout.
**What Just Happened
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made his first White House visit since 2018, when U.S. intelligence concluded he likely approved the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Trump welcomed him with full honors, closed-door meetings, billion-dollar deal announcements, and an evening reception hosted by Melania Trump.
The visit marks a dramatic shift from years of tension to a fully restored partnership.
**Big Moves & Bigger Deals
- Trump announced the U.S. will sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a move that surprised even senior officials.
- The visit includes talks on AI investments, nuclear cooperation, and mega-deals with Qualcomm, Chevron, and Pfizer.
- Trump is pushing for Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, but Riyadh says a pathway to Palestinian statehood is still non-negotiable.
**Why It Matters
The meeting signals that the diplomatic fallout from Khashoggi is over, at least for the Trump administration.
Washington is repositioning Saudi Arabia as a long-term power broker in the Middle East.
With the region still tense after the two-year Israel–Hamas war, both sides see strategic gains in a renewed partnership.
*The Backdrop
Saudi Arabia wants formal U.S. security guarantees and deeper credibility with Western investors as MBS pushes the kingdom beyond oil dependency.
Tensions remain high across Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, and Sudan, all shaping the meeting’s high-stakes environment.
Trump, meanwhile, is seeking a major diplomatic win, and normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia would be historic.
**The Bottom Line
This meeting resets U.S.–Saudi relations on Trump’s terms.
Geopolitics, weapons deals, and regional strategy are taking priority over human rights concerns.
Both leaders are betting the partnership will shape a “new era” in the Middle East, even as past controversies remain unresolved.
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Transparency notes
Published: Nov 18, 2025. Last updated: Nov 20, 2025.
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