US President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that his first overseas trip is likely to be to Saudi Arabia, where he aims to finalize an agreement for the Kingdom to invest up to $1 trillion in the US economy, including military equipment purchases.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump shared that he plans to visit Saudi Arabia in the next month and a half. He reflected on his first overseas trip as president in 2017, which was also to Riyadh, where he announced a Saudi investment package valued at $350 billion at the time.
“This time, they’ve gotten richer, we’ve all gotten older,” Trump quipped, adding that under his direction, the Saudis have agreed to invest $1 trillion over four years in American companies, which will include military purchases.
Trump emphasized his strong relationship with the Saudi leadership, noting, “They’ve been very nice, and they’ve agreed to do that,” signaling a deepening economic partnership.
This follows Saudi Arabia’s growing role in US foreign policy, with additional efforts to strengthen economic ties. Recently, Saudi officials have taken part in high-profile meetings, including hosting a US-Ukraine discussion on a potential ceasefire in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Trump’s ties to Saudi Arabia extend beyond politics, with his son-in-law Jared Kushner securing a $2 billion investment from the Saudis for his private equity firm after Trump left office. Additionally, Trump has overseen major investment announcements from companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Apple, further bolstering the US economy.
