The significant victory achieved by Republican candidate Donald Trump in the presidential election sparked widespread joy in Saudi Arabia, with local media expressing immense elation at the controversial billionaire’s return to the White House.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was among the first to congratulate Trump on his win through a phone call, expressing the kingdom’s aspirations to work with the United States to enhance the historical and strategic relations that bind the two nations.
The semi-official Saudi media did not hide its great celebration of Trump’s return, noting that its support for the Republican president was evident even before the election, as demonstrated when the “Al Arabiya” channel hosted him at the height of his election campaign against his Democratic rival Kamala Harris.
During the interview, Trump praised Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s “Vision 2030” project, adding that he “did things nobody else would think of.”
He described the Crown Prince as “a wonderful man, respected around the world.”
Prominent media figure Abdulrahman al-Rashed clearly stated, “Trump’s victory is good news in Riyadh,” adding that the next phase would witness “a strong relationship with the returning president and his team, and everyone should take this fact into account.”
A Different Man Notable writer Mashari Al-Thaydi, in an article for “Al Sharq Al Awsat” newspaper, described Trump as “a different man in every aspect.”
Al-Thaydi commended Trump’s return to the White House as provocative and hinted that he could end wars in the region, including between Russia and Ukraine.
Al-Thaydi questioned, “The man champions ‘America First,’ especially in trade… Will the Chinese, Russians, and Latin American left accept this? Will the patrons of political Islam; the ‘Brotherhood’ and ‘Khomeinists’ reconcile with this, or will it intensify their ferocity? Or will America under Trump find a way to negotiate with them, deter them, or ignore them?”
Common Interests Despite losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump’s relationship with his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Saudi Arabia did not cease. Earlier this year, “Trump Group” real estate announced it would build the massive “Trump Tower” in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which “The Hill” newspaper noted could raise new concerns about conflicts of interest for Trump, who won the election.
The Saudi government also invested two billion dollars with Kushner. Last year, the Crown Prince said that Kushner’s private equity fund would not be affected by a second Trump term.
Among the indications of a strong relationship between Trump and Saudi Arabia, even under the Biden administration, was the attendance of Trump’s former private banker, Ken Moelis, at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Saudi Arabia last month.
Armament and Iran’s Nuclear Program Saudi Arabia counts on Trump’s return to the White House to facilitate securing massive defensive system deals, according to an analysis by “Foreign Policy” magazine.
For instance, Trump approved a major arms deal with Saudi Arabia worth $110 billion in 2017, while Biden froze a weapons sales deal to the kingdom in 2021.
Riyadh seeks to secure advanced air defense systems to counter threats from drones and missiles, especially after its oil facilities were struck by Ansar Allah “Houthi” group a few years ago.
Saudi Arabia also hopes Trump’s arrival will limit Iran’s ability to develop its nuclear program, despite the significant improvement in relations between Tehran and Riyadh after last year’s famous Beijing accords.
Saudi Arabia also has nuclear ambitions and seeks, if it strikes a historic deal with the United States (potentially leading to normalization with Israel), to enhance its goal of building a civilian nuclear program, similar to Iran’s nuclear program.
Uncertain Relations The tightly knit relations between Riyadh and Washington after Trump’s victory are not guaranteed, especially if conflicts arise over issues like oil production rates.
In 2018, Saudi Arabia responded to Trump’s request to increase oil production by up to two million barrels daily, yet he later engaged in a dispute with Saudi Arabia after the famous oil crisis between the kingdom and Russia in 2020.
In an interview in August last year, Trump said he would work to lower energy prices if he won the presidency, noting that the United States has more energy resources, including what he calls “liquid gold,” under its feet than Saudi Arabia, Russia, or any other country. “We will dominate energy, make a fortune, and supply it all over Europe and the world,” Trump told “Fox News.”
Among the issues that could strain relations between the two parties is Trump’s hostile language toward Saudi Arabia over the years.
Before winning his first presidential term, Trump insulted Saudi Arabia, calling them “cowardly loudmouths,” and boasted about his ability to force Saudi Arabia to pay $500 billion to the United States.
