Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hastened to appease U.S. President Donald Trump by announcing plans to invest $600 billion in the United States—an extravagant move that comes at the expense of Saudi Arabia’s already bleeding economy.
Following a phone call with Trump, bin Salman declared that Saudi Arabia intends to inject $600 billion into the U.S. economy over the next four years. His announcement came just after Trump hinted at making Saudi Arabia his first foreign visit after assuming office.
Saudi Arabia’s Readiness to Serve U.S. Interests
Saudi Arabia’s state-run news agency reported:
“The Crown Prince affirmed the Kingdom’s determination to expand its investments and trade exchanges with the United States over the next four years, with an initial commitment of $600 billion—potentially more.”
Trump had earlier suggested he might once again choose Saudi Arabia for his first overseas visit, just as he did in 2017.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump stated:
“The first foreign trip is usually to the United Kingdom, but last time, I went to Saudi Arabia because they agreed to purchase $450 billion worth of our products. If Saudi Arabia is willing to buy another $450 billion—or even $500 billion, considering inflation—I think I’ll go.”
A History of Compliance and Political Bargains
Trump’s 2017 visit to Saudi Arabia was followed by a years-long blockade against Qatar by four Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia. The timing raised speculation about the real motivations behind such visits and the geopolitical deals orchestrated behind closed doors.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its growth forecast for Saudi Arabia in 2025, citing unexpected OPEC+ production cuts. The projected economic growth for 2024 has already been revised downward to 1.4%.
The broader Gulf region is also suffering from reduced oil output, prompting the World Bank to lower its 2025 economic growth forecast for the region to 3.3%.
Saudis Express Frustration Over the “Milking Cow” Image
The backlash against Saudi Arabia’s economic submission is growing. Prominent Saudi human rights advocate Lina Al-Hathloul, head of monitoring and advocacy at ALQST for Human Rights, voiced her frustration over how the Kingdom is perceived.
In a post on X, she stated:
“Yesterday, I attended Bassem Youssef’s show—it was fantastic. But, as always, Saudi Arabia was portrayed as the ‘milking cow.’ Even in comedy, there’s a noticeable bias in how our country is discussed compared to others.”
She continued:
“I had mixed feelings—on one hand, I saw how the audience consumed this narrative and reacted to the stereotype of Saudi Arabia. But I also reflected on our reality as Saudis among the Arab world. Many forget that we are an Arab nation, sharing the same struggles and the same dream of a just country where citizens are respected and heard. But the curse of buying loyalty has turned us into something else.”
Trump’s “Milking Cow” Metaphor and Saudi Arabia’s Financial Drain
The term “milking cow” was notoriously used by Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign to describe Saudi Arabia—boasting about how the U.S. extracts money from the Kingdom, which continues to produce wealth on demand for Washington.
This latest episode further cements the reality of Saudi Arabia’s role as an economic lifeline for U.S. interests while its own citizens continue to suffer from economic stagnation and diminishing sovereignty.
