Trump lands in Saudi Arabia, skips Israel visit

RIYADH: US President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, kicking off his first major international visit of his second term, while excluding its ally Israel.

Trump is also scheduled to visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates during the week. The trip comes at a sensitive diplomatic moment, as Washington scrambles to finalize trade deals following a recent truce in its tariff standoff with China.

Trump landed in Riyadh with top US officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The delegation attended a coffee ceremony with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the royal court. Among those present were White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and her deputy James Blair, along with business magnate Elon Musk.

Trump warmly greeted Saudi officials, exchanging multiple handshakes before beginning his three-day tour. He is expected to speak at an investment forum bringing together business leaders, government officials, and key members of his administration.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are among the US officials scheduled to speak at the forum. Musk will also address attendees, as will David Sacks, former PayPal executive and Trump’s point man on AI and cryptocurrency.

The forum will also feature Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, a major Trump donor, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, and Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon.

Trump’s decision to bypass Israel, a long-time US ally, has sparked quiet diplomatic chatter, with analysts watching closely to see how the visit shapes regional dynamics.