A burst of Oval Office theatrics erupted when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) pledged Tuesday to pour approximately $1 trillion dollars into the United States, triggering a cascade of economic, military and diplomatic declarations during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The meeting unfolded at a moment when U.S.–Saudi ties are being recalibrated around new security concerns expanding economic interests and fast-moving regional diplomacy. The crown prince outlined plans to expand Saudi investment in the United States, signaled interest in an F-35 purchase, reopened the door to Iran diplomacy, and revived talks over a possible Saudi-Israeli alignment.
The exchange also forced both leaders to confront questions about alleged human rights violations and Syrian sanctions. Military.com reached out to multiple agencies for comment.
The $1 Trillion Promise
A wave of surprise moved through the room when Trump pushed MBS to exceed a $600 billion pledge, with the crown prince going even further.
“We increased it today,” MBS said. “It is almost $1 trillion.” Trump nodded and told gathered press that he liked the figure.
A senior General Electric executive David Rommel, a facility leader for GE Vernova, told Trump that Saudi demand is driving a surge in U.S. production. Rommel said GE is tripling output at a Greenville South Carolina turbine facility and adding 1,800 jobs.
Trump said the investment wave strengthens American workers and supply chains.
Growing Saudi Influence on US
Saudi money already reaches deep into the American economy.
Entities have poured tens of billions of dollars into the U.S. over the years through energy projects, real estate purchases, sovereign wealth fund deals, and U.S. treasuries. The Trump administration welcomed major injections of Saudi capital during its first term while other administrations saw steadier but smaller flows tied mostly to long-term financial holdings and defense purchases.
Saudi influence also grew across some of the most visible corners of American life. The kingdom’s Public Investment Fund created a rival golf league, LIV, that forced a merger with the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA). Saudi-backed firms expanded stakes in entertainment and technology. The sovereign fund committed billions to a private equity venture founded by Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner shortly after he left the White House.
The trillion-dollar signal sets a different bar. It hints at investment on a scale far beyond previous efforts while raising new questions about which U.S. industries could see the next surge. It also shows how the crown prince is trying to position Saudi Arabia as a major global investor, pushing the economic transformation tied to Vision 2030.
Public investment figures are based on U.S. Treasury disclosures, sovereign wealth fund reports, and widely documented financial records.
F-35 Flashpoint
When Trump faced a question about Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of the F-35, a stealth fighter jet, the president said he already spoke with Israeli officials about it.
MBS said Saudi Arabia plans to spend $50 billion soon and expects long-term investment to reach hundreds of billions for U.S. chips and advanced computing. The conversation also unfolded as U.S. posture continues to expand in Asia.
Trump said Iran wants a deal and claimed American action “took out 95% of their nuclear program.”
Advocacy Groups Turn Up the Pressure
Advocacy groups tried to set the tone early, warning U.S. officials not to sideline rights issues during the high-stakes visit.
Human Rights Watch pointed Military.com to a joint statement released before the meeting that urged U.S. officials to press MBS on what the groups describe as deepening repression inside the kingdom. The release raised concerns about detainees’ execution figures and limits on dissent, also calling for reforms and prisoner releases.
Amnesty International highlighted its own statement urging the White House to place human rights at the center of the meeting. The organization cited several long prison sentences tied to online speech and said the killing of former Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi remains unresolved.
The organization also urged U.S. officials to address issues involving detentions due process and Saudi-led operations in Yemen.
Gaza and Khashoggi
Beyond financial discussions, the Oval Office meeting included other points of tension.
MBS at one point outlined Saudi expectations for any future alignment with Israel, with previous conversations including being about the Abraham Accords. He said Saudi Arabia needs a path to a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
“We want to be part of the coalition of decent countries,” he said.
Trump said the talk about normalization was “very positive” and he expects improved relations “with both,” referring to Israelis and Palestinians.
MBS said Saudi Arabia is discussing how to support Gaza reconstruction and participate in a longer plan. He also said he wants to help the United States explore an agreement with Iran an issue that remains central to U.S. military operations in the region.
Reporters also raised questions about the killing of Khashoggi, which MBS referred to as a mistake.
“We did all the right steps of investigation. We changed systems so it will never happen again,” he said.
Trump rejected the idea that MBS approved the operation, saying, “He knew nothing about it.”
U.S. intelligence agencies publicly assessed in 2021 that the crown prince approved the operation that led to Khashoggi’s death. The assessment was released under a congressional mandate.
Reporters also asked about possible conflicts involving Trump family business ties in the kingdom. Trump dismissed the questions and moved on. MBS addressed questions about the Sept. 11 attacks and said Osama bin Laden used Saudi nationals to damage U.S.–Saudi relations.
New Frontiers for a Long-Term Partnership
MBS said both nations plan to deepen cooperation across energy, AI, advanced technology and defense—describing the agenda as broad and ongoing.
Trump said the relationship “cannot get much better” and that additional agreements are already under review.
The White House is expected to release more information on economic packages, defense coordination initiatives, chip licensing discussions, a potential F-35 sale track, and emerging diplomacy involving Gaza and Iran.
“There are no limits,” said MBS.
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