During a high-profile business summit in Riyadh, US President Donald Trump heaped praise on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), calling him the driving force behind Saudi Arabia’s transformation into a global business powerhouse. Trump opened his speech with a light-hearted but pointed question to the crown prince.
“Mohammed, do you sleep at night? How do you sleep? What a job,” Trump asked. “He tosses and turns like some of us, tosses and turns all night… ‘How do I make it better?’ It’s the ones who don’t toss and turn, they’re the ones who will never take you to the promised land.”
His words drew laughter from MBS and applause from the audience.
'How do you sleep at night? You toss and turn all night'
This is how Trump praises MBS for his leadership in the Middle East pic.twitter.com/qSowfjXTd1
— RT (@RT_com) May 13, 2025
Trump Applauds Saudi Progress Under MBS
Trump, now 78, continued to praise the crown prince for defying global skepticism. “Critics doubted it (Saudi’s rise) was possible, what you’ve done, but over the past eight years Saudi Arabia has proved the critics totally wrong… I like him a lot. I like him too much,” he said.
His remarks came during his first major international visit since beginning his second presidential term.
US-Saudi Alliance Strengthens
During the speech, Trump stressed his strong partnership with Saudi Arabia. He announced that the US would lift sanctions on Syria, citing requests from both MBS and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “Oh, what I do for the crown prince,” he said jokingly, signaling his commitment to MBS.
Trump also described Saudi Arabia as “the center of the world,” without mentioning the country’s controversial human rights record. This included the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. While MBS denied involvement in the murder and highlighted reforms like granting more rights to women, critics said political repression and arrests of dissidents remain major issues.
What MBS and Trump Aim to Achieve
Trump and MBS continue to share mutual interests. Trump seeks economic wins and a restored American presence in the Middle East. On the other hand, MBS wants access to cutting-edge technology, defense systems, and stronger global influence.
At the Riyadh summit, Trump highlighted major deals. These included a $142 billion defense agreement and a massive $600 billion Saudi investment in infrastructure, energy, and artificial intelligence.
Criticism from US Lawmakers and Rights Groups
Trump’s warm relationship with MBS has drawn backlash. Many American lawmakers and human rights groups have criticized him for focusing too much on business and ignoring Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
Contrast With Biden’s Approach
Trump’s friendly tone stands in stark contrast to former President Joe Biden’s earlier stance. In 2019, Biden had promised to make Saudi Arabia a global “pariah” after Khashoggi’s murder and other rights abuses. But global politics changed.
When oil prices soared after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the US had to reevaluate its ties with Riyadh. Biden later visited MBS in July 2022. Their fist bump at the meeting sparked debate. Some called it too friendly, given the circumstances. However, the White House said the gesture was a COVID-19 precaution.
