During his first trip to the Middle East in his second term, President Donald Trump demonstrated his close relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. While speaking at a high-profile investment forum in Riyadh, Trump referred to the prince by his first name and made lighthearted jokes, signaling their informal connection.
At one point, Trump joked, “The United States is the hottest country, with the exception of your country, right? I’m not going to take that on. No, Muhammad, I will not take that on. That would be a terrible thing if I made that statement. I will not do it. You’re hotter,” which prompted laughter from the audience but stirred backlash online.
The casual tone of Trump’s remarks, especially calling the Crown Prince “Muhammad,” caught many by surprise. Critics took to social media, accusing Trump of embarrassing the U.S. on the world stage and of being too friendly with authoritarian leaders.
One user pointed to the controversial ties between Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, writing, “‘Muhammad’? I guess when your son-in-law closes a $2 billion deal with them you can be informal?” Critics also noted the contradiction between Trump’s “America First” policy and his flattering comments toward the Saudi leadership, with some calling the gesture hypocritical. “Kiss the ring. Bend the knee. Lick the boot,” one critic remarked.
Others highlighted inconsistencies in Trump’s policies, including his 2017 Muslim travel ban. “Didn’t Trump ban Muslims from entering the U.S.?” one user asked sarcastically.
The dynamic between Trump and the Crown Prince drew ridicule from some observers, with one post humorously referring to the pair as “Putin and Mohamed Bin Bone Saw” and another sarcastically suggesting, “Welcome the new First Lady, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman!”
Despite the criticism, Trump loyalists defended the interaction, calling it “diplomacy.”
During his visit, Trump signed several investment agreements with Saudi Arabia and announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Trump’s Gulf tour a “historic return to the Middle East,” which will continue with stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates throughout the week.
