The Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, is set to visit the White House on November 18, 2025, where he will meet with the US President Donald Trump.
In addition to the anticipated pomp reception, the visit will focus on discussing a diverse range of issues, from regional developments to economic partnership, defense cooperation and technology deals, solidifying the deepening ties between Saudi Arabia and the US.
Lavish Reception
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will arrive in the US on Tuesday, November 18, for an official “working visit,” during which he will meet with President Donald Trump, Al-Arabiya reported citing a White House official.
The White House is preparing for a grand reception with the pomp and grandeur of a state visit to honor the Saudi Crown Prince. “It will be more than a meeting – we’re honoring Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday.
حديقة البيت الأبيض تتزين بالأعلام #السعودية والأميركية احتفاءً بالزيارة المرتقبة لولي العهد السعودي الأمير #محمد_بن_سلمان pic.twitter.com/eXl3pSsG4o
— العربية السعودية (@AlArabiya_KSA) November 16, 2025
The reception will begin with an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn and a subsequent greeting on the South Portico, a senior White House official told the Associated Press (AP).
Ahead of the anticipated visit, the White House has adorned its South Lawn with Saudi Arabia’s green flags alongside American flags. Moreover, it announced artillery drill rehearsals for receiving the Crown Prince.
After that, Trump will host the Saudi Crown Prince at the Oval Office for talks. This will be followed by a signing and lunch in the Cabinet Room. Then, the first lady, Melania Trump, will host a formal dinner at the White House’s East Room.
Topics on the Agenda
During the visit, Crown Price Mohammed bin Salman and Trump are expected to discuss several issues, including the latest regional and international developments, as well as formalizing multiple agreements. These agreements focus on three areas: defense, emerging technology and energy, the Former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Michael Ratney, told Arab News.
In terms of defense, Ratney expected “some sort of a defense agreement that helps cement and bolster US-Saudi military cooperation.” He also expected Saudi Arabia to forge a deal to get “predictable and reliable supplies of US tech, particularly the most advanced chips to essentially fuel their AI ambitions.”
The third area, according to the former ambassador, is energy cooperation. “The Saudis are big investors in renewable energy. I think they see a piece of that as nuclear. And I believe they’re going to want some sort of an agreement on civil nuclear cooperation between the US and Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Defense Agreements
Saudi and US officials have been working on finalizing a set of agreements in recent days. Last week, the Saudi Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, visited Washington where he met with senior US officials, including State Secretary, Marco Rubio; War Secretary, Pete Hegseth; and Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff.
During their meeting, they reviewed Saudi-US relations, explored strategic partnership and discussed the latest regional and international developments.
One of the topics on the agenda is Saudi Arabia’s purchase of American-made F-35 fighter jets and other weapons. Trump said he was considering a potential deal. “I’m looking at that. They’ve asked me to look at it. They want to buy a lot of ’35’ – but they want to buy actually more than that, fighter jets,” he said.
Investment Forum
Saudi Arabia and the US will host a joint investment forum on Wednesday, November 19, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The forum, organized by the Saudi Investment Ministry and the Saudi-US Business Council, will bring together dozens of CEOs. While their participation has not been confirmed yet, the Crown Prince and Trump will likely attend the forum.
The gathering will “explore new investment horizons across critical sectors, including energy, technology, financial services, infrastructure, and healthcare” and will be a platform for “exclusive business matchmaking,” according to an invitation obtained by CBS News.
The forum will build on Saudi Arabia’s pledge of $600 billion investments in the US over the next four years, announced by the Saudi Crown Prince in January 2025. Moreover, Trump brought a number of high-profile business leaders with him during his visit to Saudi Arabia in May. The visit witnessed the signing of deals worth $300 billion at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh.
Saudi-US Strong Ties
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last visited Washington in 2018. The upcoming visit and the warm reception stress the close personal relationship between the Saudi Crown Prince and Trump, who described the Crown Prince as an “incredible man” that has turned Riyadh into a major business, cultural and high-tech capital of the entire world.
It also underscores the deepening partnership between Riyadh and Washington. Trump made Saudi Arabia his first foreign destination during his second term as a president, signaling the Kingdom’s centrality in regional and international dynamics.
During his visit to Riyadh in May 2025, Trump received a lavish welcome ceremony, including a fighter jet escort, an honor guard with golden swords and a fleet of Arabian horses accompanying his limousine.
The two leaders’ anticipated meeting will solidify the growing strategic, economic and security ties between Saudi Arabia and the US, cementing their strategic alignment and expanding their economic partnership.
