Summary

Media caption,

Watch: White House rolls out red carpet for Saudi's crown prince

  1. Crown prince knew nothing about journalist's murder, says Trumppublished at 17:54 GMT
    Breaking

    The president is now asked whether it is appropriate that his family does business in Saudi Arabia while he is president.

    He responds that he has "nothing" to do with the family business who he says have business "all over" and actually do "little" with Saudi Arabia.

    He says his focus is on America.

    The ABC journalist also asks the prince about the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi and adds that 9/11 families are "furious" the crown prince is in the Oval Office.

    On this point, Trump says the prince has done a "phenomenal job" and underlines "he knew nothing about [the murder]".

    He also claims Khashoggi himself was "extremely controversial".

    Bin Salman chips in to say he feels "painful" about the families of 9/11 and on the journalist also says it is "painful" to hear of anyone losing their life "for no real purpose".

    He insists the "right steps" were taken during the investigation and says the system has been improved "to ensure nothing happens like that [again]".

  2. Can Saudi Arabia afford $1tn with lower oil prices?published at 17:53 GMT

    One journalist asks the crown prince if Saudi Arabia can continue with the $1 trillion investment considering current oil prices, which have dropped to around $60 a barrel recently - down from almost $80 at the start of the year.

    Mohammed bin Salman says "we're not creating fake opportunities to please America or please President Trump, it's real opportunities".

    He gives the example of AI chips, saying Saudi Arabia has huge demand for computing power, and an agreement with America will present opportunities to fit Saudi's needs.

    MBS and TrumpImage source, Reuters
  3. Trump basks in $1tn Saudi investmentpublished at 17:51 GMT

    Trump then says the pair will take some questions from the press.

    Before he does so however he reiterates to the prince that it is an "honour" to be his friend and adds that the US "very much appreciate[s]" the investment.

    "Now $1 trillion, OK," Trump says to some laughter in the room. "I'm glad you [the crown prince] got that out there because I didn't want to be the one to tell them."

    Bin Salman says, with a smile, "you keep increasing Mr President, each time the opportunities are increasing more and more".

  4. Crown prince says he can increase investment in US to $1tnpublished at 17:49 GMT
    Breaking

    Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is speaking now.

    He says he can increase the $600bn of investment in the US up to $1tn.

    President Trump asks him to confirm, to which MBS responds "definitely".

    "That's great," Trump says, adding: "I appreciate that".

  5. Trump praises 'very successful' attack on Iranian nuclear sitespublished at 17:48 GMT

    Trump continues to say the pair are "always on the same side" of every issue.

    He turns to Iran, and the president says the US did a "great job" of wiping out the country's nuclear capacity - "nobody else could have done that", the president adds.

    Trump says he invited the pilots involved in the US strikes on Iran in the Oval Office to celebrate "a very successful attack".

    He says the pilots told him that they, and their predecessors, had practised such an attack "for 22 years" but that no president ever gave the go-ahead.

    "I let them do it," Trump says as he explains it was the "right thing" to do.

  6. Trump focuses on the economy in opening remarkspublished at 17:44 GMT

    Bernd Debusmann Jr
    Reporting from the White House

    The US president's initial remarks in the meeting with the Saudi crown prince have focused, in large part, on the US economy and his arguments that it has improved since his predecessor Joe Biden left the White House.

    Trump has long framed his relationship with Saudi Arabia as one that is beneficial to the US economically, and today is similarly framing it as good for the US - both in terms of job creation and in terms of a favourable investment environment.

    Notably, Trump's comments come as the White House comes under criticism from its detractors, some of whom say that Trump has failed to live up to his promises to help everyday Americans and bring down prices.

    The issue of affordability in the US is also something that Trump discussed, at length, at an event hosted by McDonald's yesterday evening.

  7. 'We appreciate it very much' - Trump on Saudi investmentpublished at 17:41 GMT

    Saudi Arabia will invest $600bn (£456bn) in the US, Trump says - a reference to funds promised during the president's trip to Riyadh earlier this year.

    "That number could go up a little bit higher," he says. "We appreciate it very much."

    The money will mean more investment in plants, companies and in Wall Street, Trump adds, and says it will also help to create jobs in the US.

    "We have a lot of jobs," says Trump.

  8. Trump says US 'hottest country in the world'published at 17:39 GMT

    Trump continues, saying that the US is now the "hottest country in the world".

    He says that between tariffs and the election, his administration has done things "nobody can believe".

  9. Crown prince has been friend 'for a long time', Trump sayspublished at 17:34 GMT

    Trump begins by calling the crown prince an "extremely respected" man, and says bin Salman has been a friend of his "for a long time".

    The US president continues to praise the prince's work "in terms of human rights", and pays the "greatest respects" to his father.

  10. Trump and bin Salman begin Oval Office talkspublished at 17:30 GMT
    Breaking

    The US president and the crown prince have both sat down to start their bilateral meeting.

    They're delivering some opening remarks now - you can watch live at the top of the page.

  11. What is the current military relationship between Saudi Arabia and the US?published at 17:25 GMT

    Tom Bateman
    US State Department correspondent

    We're just waiting on the two leaders to emerge for bilateral talks in the Oval Office. One thing likely to be on the agenda is bin Salman's push for a defence agreement with the US. Tom Bateman looks at the current security relationship between the two countries.

    The US has troops stationed at military bases across Saudi Arabia, including at the Prince Sultan Air Base south of Riyadh which contains US Patriot missile batteries.

    Combined with its other bases in Gulf states, these make up Washington’s outsized role in the region’s security balance.

    The US military presence in the kingdom has often been controversial.

    But the bases, sitting across the Gulf from Iran, are intended to create deterrence against America’s adversaries; while providing protection to its allies - Israel and the Gulf Arab states.

    That strategic relationship has, however, been under pressure, with both Iran and Israel having launched strikes on Qatar this year.

    The Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, want Washington to provide them with a more formal security pledge.

    Qatar got that from Trump earlier this year. Now Mohammed bin Salman wants the same; plus his long-held desire for American F-35 fighter jets and progress on US backing for a Saudi civilian nuclear power programme.

  12. Trump and crown prince to arrive in Oval Office soonpublished at 17:05 GMT

    Bernd Debusmann Jr
    Reporting from Washington DC

    We're expecting to see US President Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office any minute now.

  13. Three F-35 jets welcomed the crown prince to the USpublished at 16:59 GMT

    Bernd Debusmann Jr
    Reporting from the White House

    A little more on that warm welcome for the crown prince.

    As he arrived there was a fly-over, which we now know consisted of three F-35 fighter jets and three F-15s.

    It's a personal touch from President Trump, who told reporters ahead of this visit that the US will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia.

    Six planes fly in an arrow shape above the White HouseImage source, SAUL LOEB/AFP
  14. Trump and bin Salman greet each other before White House talks - in picturespublished at 16:55 GMT

    Trump salutes as a black horse with a rider in military uniform passes him. He's surrounded by military officers and politicians.Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    US President Donald Trump observed a procession of horses in front of the White House while waiting for the Saudi crown prince to arrive

    Trump and bin Salman greet each other outside the White HouseImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The two leaders greeted each other outside the White House, and posed for photos

    Trump and bin Salman chatting outside the Presidents Hall of FameImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    They then return outside, and look at a long line of presidential portraits

    U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright stand in a lineImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Members of the US delegation stand outside the White House as they wait to enter

  15. Trump takes crown prince to view presidential portraitspublished at 16:44 GMT

    Trump and bin Salman in the president's gallery of former presidents. Trump is pointing at one of the portraits.Image source, AFP via Getty Images

    Trump and the crown prince briefly step outside again, and can be seen speaking in the White House garden.

    The pair look at a wall filled with pictures of former US presidents.

    You can watch these moments unfold by pressing watch live at the top of the page.

  16. An elaborate welcome for the Saudi delegationpublished at 16:37 GMT

    Bernd Debusmann Jr
    Reporting from the White House

    U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, at White HouseImage source, REUTERS/Jessica Koscielniak

    I've just returned to the White House basement. When the crown prince arrived I was outside on the north side of the White House, where I could hear national anthems being played and the cannons blasting.

    About a minute before I walked back inside, a flight of six US fighter jets flew over the White House - a sign of how important military hardware is likely to be in the upcoming discussion.

    Usually "working visits" to the White House are quite straightforward affairs, in which the visiting leader is driven down the driveway on the north side of the building to meet the US president at the doors to the West Wing.

    This sort of pomp-and-circumstance is usually reserved for heads of state, which in Saudi Arabia's case would be King Salman.

    Having this sort of reception is a sign of how important Saudi Arabia is to the Trump administration, whether that be diplomatically, militarily or economically.

  17. Leaders head for bilateral meetingpublished at 16:33 GMT

    U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman watch a military flyover at the White HouseImage source, REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

    As the two leaders shook hands they exchanged some words, which were not picked up by the cameras.

    They then stood for a few moments outside the White House - looking upwards as a flyover, believed to be made up of F-35 fighter jets, took place.

    The crown prince and the president then entered the White House where they will take part in a bilateral meeting. As they did so, Trump briefly placed his hand on bin Salman's back.

  18. Trump and bin Salman shake hands outside White Housepublished at 16:25 GMT
    Breaking

    Trump and bin Salman shake hands outside the White HouseImage source, The White House

    Trump emerges from the building and stands in front of the White House.

    Music plays as the Saudi crown prince arrives and the pair shake hands.

    The pair stand while jets fly overhead.

    Trump and bin Salman walk into the White HouseImage source, Reuters
  19. US and Saudi delegations leave White House ahead of arrivalpublished at 16:23 GMT
    Breaking

    We're seeing members of the US and Saudi delegations leave the White House now.

    US and Saudi flags are being held by uniformed soldiers outside the building.

    We expect to see Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Donald Trump shortly - you can watch live at the top of the page.

    The White House, with lots of soldiers with American flags stood outside in ceremony, including a marching bandImage source, Reuters
  20. Analysis

    A warm welcome awaits the Saudi crown princepublished at 16:00 GMT

    Anthony Zurcher
    North America correspondent

    Donald Trump’s first international trip of his first term was to Saudi Arabia. His first full foreign trip of his second term began in Saudi Arabia.

    Great Britain may have a historical claim to the term “special relationship” when it comes to the US, but it’s clear that Trump's connection to Saudi Arabia – politically, financially and personally – is anything but ordinary.

    During his trip to Riyadh earlier this year, the Saudis promised more than $600bn (£456bn) in US investments. More could be on the way following Mohammed bin Salman’s visit – his first to the US since the Saudis were implicated in the 2018 murder of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi.

    That episode appears to be ancient history, at least for Trump.

    The US president has offered the Saudis access to state-of-the-art US military hardware, including F-35 fighter jets. He has made Saudi Arabia a key player in his Middle East peace plan, even if the kingdom has yet to sign on to his Abraham Accords pact and normalised relations with Israel.

    Since returning to the White House, Trump has had a steady stream of foreign leaders seeking to curry his favour, with varying levels of success. Few will have received the kind of warm greeting that awaits the Saudi crown prince, however.

    Media caption,

    Deals, handshakes and Musk - a recap of Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia earlier this year