Musk and other top CEOs join Trump in Saudi Arabia and trip is already epic

A royal welcome found President Donald Trump receiving purple carpet treatment and special escorts upon his arrival in the Middle East with a bevy of business leaders.

Nearly five years removed from the historic Abraham Accords, the president set off on his first international trip for his second administration and arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Tuesday. It was there that, after providing an F-15 escort for Air Force One, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally met Trump at the airport to welcome him ahead of a massive investment.

Ahead of stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, the president’s arrival in Riyadh found him and a number of cabinet members treated to coffees at King Khalid International Airport’s Royal Terminal before Trump’s limousine was paraded by flag-bearing horsemen to the royal court.

President Trump arrives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and is greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. pic.twitter.com/4XeT1XXgT2

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 13, 2025

Saudi F-15’s providing honorary escort for Air Force One! pic.twitter.com/c0EURfBRNt

— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) May 13, 2025

.@POTUS‘s first event is a quick welcome inside the Royal Terminal at King Khalid International Airport, where he is joined by @SecRubio, @SecDef, @howardlutnick, and @SecretaryWright. pic.twitter.com/3tkQbhNGFp

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 13, 2025

The Beast pulls up to the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh pic.twitter.com/NSxhzaFk5o

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 13, 2025

It was there that, after “The Star-Spangled Banner” was played as the president saluted, Trump, along with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, participated in a meeting with the crown prince to discuss the size of his nation’s investment in the United States, expected to fall somewhere between $600 billion and $1 trillion.

Also in attendance at the investment forum were business leaders from some of the world’s biggest companies, including the president’s own efficiency adviser, Elon Musk.

Other guests included the Tesla founder’s brother, Kimbal Musk, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Alphabet CIO Ruth Porat, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, and executives from American Airlines, BlackRock, Citigroup, Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, IBM, and United Airlines.

.@POTUS salutes as The Star-Spangled Banner is played outside the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh pic.twitter.com/FoiFVrHnZH

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 13, 2025

.@elonmusk greets @POTUS and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inside the Saudi Royal Court pic.twitter.com/793zuBcocJ

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 13, 2025

.@POTUS — with members of his Cabinet in attendance — participates in a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Saudi Royal Court pic.twitter.com/4E77Kw4WGi

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 13, 2025

Reacting to the visit, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United States, Reema Bandar Al-Saud, posted, “We are thrilled to welcome President Trump … to Riyadh for a visit that marks another milestone in our strategic partnership. Together, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America stand as a force for good, advancing peace, security, and prosperity across the world.”

We are thrilled to welcome President Trump @POTUS to Riyadh for a visit that marks another milestone in our strategic partnership.
Together, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America stand as a force for good, advancing peace, security, and prosperity across… https://t.co/FT8KwbI4jh

— Reema Bandar Al-Saud (@rbalsaud) May 13, 2025

In addition to the warm welcome from the Saudis, the Daily Mail reported that Trump’s Middle East excursion was expected to include meetings with leaders representing areas around Israel, including Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and Palestinian National Authority President and chair of the Palestine Liberation Organization Mahmoud Abbas.

Before setting off on the trip, the president announced the recovery of the last American citizen held hostage by Hamas since the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack, Edan Alexander, in part thanks to mediation efforts by Qatar and Egypt.

Doha, Qatar, was the next stop on Trump’s trip ahead of a stop in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Amid delays from Boeing to fulfill a contract for two new Air Force One planes, the royal family of Qatar was gifting the president a new aircraft valued at $400 million on the condition that, following its official use by President Trump, ownership will transfer to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation.

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn’t researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

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