As US Air Force One flew towards Riyadh on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump was escorted mid-air by six Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s in a dramatic show of military pomp. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino shared a video of the escort on X, saying, “Thank you for the escort, and having President Trump’s back- We all appreciate it. See you on the ground shortly, THANK YOU!!!.” The video, widely watched, represented the solidity of US-Saudi relations.
White House staffer Margo Martin seconded the sentiment, posting, “Saudi F-15s giving honorary escort to Air Force One!” This theatrical move set the tone for Trump’s multi-day Gulf tour, which kicked off with a high-profile welcome in the Saudi capital.
Royal Welcome of Air Force One
Upon landing at King Khalid International Airport, Trump was greeted personally by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). The two leaders strolled along a purple carpet lined by a ceremonial guard of honour—a rare honour reserved for only the most honoured guests.
Subsequently, at a grand reception, Trump and MBS sat on lavish golden chairs under gigantic portraits of the leaders of the kingdom. They made polite small talk over Arabic coffee, which sent a message that was more than diplomatic.
“I like him a lot. I like him too much,” Trump said of MBS, and then added, “Critics doubted it was possible, what you’ve done, but during the last eight years, Saudi Arabia has proven the critics wrong.
Strategic Diplomacy and Blunt Statements
Following his visit to the lavish Al-Yamama Palace, Trump issued several blunt geopolitical statements. He complimented Saudi Arabia’s efforts towards modernisation and stated, “The Middle East would be defined by commerce, not chaos.”
Further solidifying his backing, Trump declared the removal of sanctions on Syria—a seeming act of goodwill to both MBS and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “Oh, what I do for the crown prince,” Trump joked, garnering a combination of admiration and criticism on social media.
In his most sweeping of remarks, Trump referred to Saudi Arabia as “the center of the world” and spoke to the strategic value he places on the US-Saudi partnership.