• Elon Musk, left, Tesla boss and adviser to the US President, and Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, centre, are directed towards Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Royal Court in Riyadh. AFP
    Elon Musk, left, Tesla boss and adviser to the US President, and Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, centre, are directed towards Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Royal Court in Riyadh. AFP
  • Saudi ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud meets US President Donald Trump. AP Photo
    Saudi ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud meets US President Donald Trump. AP Photo
  • OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman waits to meet Crown Prince Mohammed. AFP
    OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman waits to meet Crown Prince Mohammed. AFP
  • Crown Prince Mohammed greets delegation members, watched by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. AFP
    Crown Prince Mohammed greets delegation members, watched by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. AFP
  • US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth watches as the Saudi Crown Prince and US President greet delegation members at the Royal Court. AFP
    US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth watches as the Saudi Crown Prince and US President greet delegation members at the Royal Court. AFP
  • Mr Trump appeared to have a strong rapport with Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to US, one of the most recognised Saudi officials abroad. AFP
    Mr Trump appeared to have a strong rapport with Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to US, one of the most recognised Saudi officials abroad. AFP
  • Prince Mohammed and President Trump with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. AP Photo
    Prince Mohammed and President Trump with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. AP Photo

Who's who in Trump's Saudi royal court meet-and-greet?


Rory Reynolds
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Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip

US President Donald Trump has met the great and the good of Saudi leadership, plus a host of American captains of industry.

At the royal court at Yamamah Palace, the US leader shook hands with hundreds of dignitaries on the opening day of his trip to the Gulf.

The Saudis

Mr Trump appeared to have a strong rapport with Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to US, one of the most recognised Saudi officials abroad.

He met Mohammed Al Jadaan, Minister of Finance, who oversees the nation's $300 billion budget, and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al Jubeir.

Khalid Al Falih, Minister of Investment, Amin Nasser, chief executive of Aramco, the world's largest oil producer, and Yasir Al Rumayyan, governor of Public Investment Fund, were among the most influential figures in the room.

Mr Trump appeared to have most fun saluting then shaking the hands of a lengthy cadre of senior officers belonging to the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia.

The Americans

From the American side, Mr Trump shook the hand of Elon Musk, the world's richest man, who shed his usual t-shirt and jeans for a dark business suit. Both are due to speak at the Saudi-US investment forum later.

Uber founder Travis Kalanick was seen speaking at length to Mr Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Mr Trump was also pictured with Fifa boss Gianni Infantino, Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang and OpenAI chief Sam Altman.

From his White House team, Mr Trump greeted chief of staff Susie Wiles, deputy Stephen Miller, among many others. Travelling with the President are Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth.

Gulf tour has substance, says American strategist

Updated: May 14, 2025, 7:43 AM