During a major business summit in Riyadh, US President Donald Trump praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) for transforming Riyadh into a global business center. While addressing the event, Trump even joked about the prince’s sleep schedule, drawing laughs and applause from the crowd. “Mohammed, do you sleep at night? How do you sleep? What a job. 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,” Trump said. This comment sparked laughter from bin Salman and earned Trump a standing ovation from the audience filled with global business leaders.

Trump Applauds Saudi Progress Under MBS

Trump admired how MBS dealt with criticism and helped modernize Saudi Arabia. He said: “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.”

The former president highlighted MBS's leadership as a driving force behind Saudi Arabia’s growing global influence.

Lifting Sanctions and Strengthening Ties

Trump also announced a key foreign policy move during his speech. He said he would lift sanctions on Syria after requests from both MBS and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “Oh, what I do for the crown prince,” he remarked, underlining his close personal connection with MBS.

He further described Saudi Arabia as: “the center of the world,” but made no mention of human rights issues, including the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Although bin Salman has denied involvement in Khashoggi’s killing, international observers remain concerned. They argue that recent reforms, such as improving women’s rights, are overshadowed by ongoing crackdowns on dissent and limited political freedoms.

Trump and MBS continue to share mutual interests. Trump wants economic gains and to restore US influence in the Middle East. Meanwhile, MBS is seeking advanced technology, military assistance, and support for his modernization plans.

At the event, Trump promoted two major deals:

• A $142 billion defense agreement

• A $600 billion investment package involving AI, infrastructure, and energy.

Criticism Over Human Rights Stance

However, Trump’s strong support for MBS has drawn criticism from US lawmakers and human rights groups. They say his focus on economic partnerships ignores Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record.

Contrast with Biden’s Approach

Trump's approach contrasts sharply with that of Joe Biden. During his 2020 campaign, Biden promised to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" after the Khashoggi killing. He took a tougher stance on human rights.

But due to rising oil prices and the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Biden recalibrated his position. In July 2022, he visited MBS in Saudi Arabia. The two exchanged a fist bump, a gesture that was criticized by some as being too friendly given the circumstances.

The White House said the fist bump was to reduce the risk of COVID-19, but the moment reflected the complex reality of US-Saudi relations.