President Trump plans to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May on his first foreign trip since returning to the White House, highlighting the administration’s strong economic ties with Gulf countries. His first foreign trip during his previous term was also to Saudi Arabia around the same time.
Speaking in the Oval Office on March 6, Trump said he would likely visit Saudi Arabia “over the next month and a half.” He explained that “normally one would visit the UK first” but ultimately chose Saudi Arabia again. “They put up 450 billion dollars,” Trump said of his previous visit. “This time I said I will go if you put up a trillion dollars to American companies… They agreed to do that.”
A U.S. official said talks during the trip will focus on foreign investments, strengthening ties with Gulf nations, and resolving conflict in the Middle East. It remains unclear whether Trump will meet with other Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia, as he did in 2017, or visit additional countries in the region.
A source familiar with the planned visit noted that Saudi Arabia prefers the trip to take place after a ceasefire is reached between Russia and Ukraine.
