Since Donald Trump was reinstated as President of the United States on January 20, 2025, he has repeatedly directed a barrage of insults at Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has seemingly accepted them without resistance.
Early on, after taking office, Trump made it clear that his first official visit would depend on Saudi Arabia’s financial concessions. Unlike the traditional first visit to the United Kingdom, Trump declared that his priority destination would be Saudi Arabia—provided the kingdom agreed to his increasing financial demands.
Trump explicitly stated that if Saudi Arabia committed to purchasing $500 million worth of American products, he would make it his first stop. In response, Mohammed bin Salman not only accepted but went beyond Trump’s expectations, pledging to invest a staggering $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years.
This announcement became the talk of the media and the public, especially after Trump remarked, “I think they’ll make it a trillion dollars… For heaven’s sake, money means nothing to them!” He then rhetorically asked, “Do you know where their money comes from?” before answering his own question: “From liquid gold, right?”
Trump continued his tirade, adding, “They have plenty of oil, but we have more than Saudi Arabia, more than anyone, but we don’t use it because of environmental concerns.” He went so far as to mock the Saudi authorities, calling them “crazy people.”
Western Media Questions MBS’s Investments
Some Western newspapers speculated that bin Salman’s massive $600 billion investment commitment was strategically timed to “appease and entice the new president into visiting Saudi Arabia.” The first call between Trump and a foreign leader was widely ridiculed as an embarrassment on all levels.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Ouda, Secretary-General of the National Assembly Party, commented: “At a time when every sector in the country is struggling, and ordinary citizens are burdened with income taxes, exorbitant fees in various fields, and excessive traffic fines, we see billions flowing from the nation’s budget into the hands of major powers. This does not serve the citizens, the country, or the national interest—it is merely a tool to cement Mohammed bin Salman’s grip on power.”
Al-Ouda further emphasized that MBS’s rule has become a significant liability for Saudi Arabia, stating: “People are gradually realizing that absolute power and authoritarian rule go hand in hand with financial corruption, abuse of power, and mismanagement of resources.”
Prominent Opposition Voices Speak Out
Renowned academic and opposition figure Dr. Madawi Al-Rasheed reacted to a video posted by the Nawh Al-Hurriya account on X (formerly Twitter), where Trump was seen addressing a crowd, saying: “The Saudis have so much money, I will ask them for a trillion dollars instead of 600 billion. Money means nothing to them—they are crazy!”
Al-Rasheed responded with a short but pointed remark, calling out MBS’s willingness to endure such insults from Trump.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Hakami, the spokesperson for the National Assembly Party, pointed out the contradiction in the Saudi government’s policies. “While the bin Salman administration declares a budget deficit, MBS rushes to please U.S. President Donald Trump by committing to a $600 billion investment—just to earn his favor and secure a visit.”
Hakami further stressed that this desperate attempt to gain U.S. approval demonstrates MBS’s disregard for his people and their well-being. Instead of addressing the country’s fiscal deficit, he continues to squander national resources on his ambitious and unrealistic projects. “This servility to the American administration,” he added, “is nothing more than an effort to whitewash MBS’s image following the global scandal of journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination.”
