Investment Talks between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia

On November 19, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, D.C. This event marked Bin Salman’s first visit to the U.S. since the controversial murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

• Bin Salman pledged to increase U.S. investments to a staggering $1 trillion, a significant rise from the $600 billion promised during Trump’s earlier visit to Saudi Arabia.
• The forum attracted a number of high-profile executives from leading American companies.
• Officials from both nations highlighted the strengthening financial ties and expansion of investments between Saudi Arabia and the United States.

President Trump announced on Wednesday that contracts and sales worth $270 billion had been signed by a range of companies. In a statement, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick emphasized the importance of innovation and safety, stating that “the agreement finalized yesterday paves the way for American companies to lead.”

While sitting beside Trump, Bin Salman discussed plans to ramp up investments further. Trump even encouraged him to consider pushing the target to $1.5 trillion, which reportedly caught Bin Salman a bit off-guard, though the specifics on how they would achieve that weren’t elaborated.

At the forum, Bin Salman mingled with some of America’s most influential business leaders, a notable point considering the recent controversies surrounding his administration.

Prominent executives from companies like Tesla, Nvidia, and IBM shared insights on the future of technology and employment during discussions. Musk mentioned the potential for work to become optional in a couple of decades, while Nvidia’s CEO stressed how AI could revolutionize the job landscape.

Bin Salman’s visit was significant, but challenges loom. Although ambitious projects at home, including a futuristic megacity and preparations for the 2034 World Cup, represent major investments, pulling together $1 trillion for U.S. investments is a tall order.

Trump has been known to benefit from connections with Saudi Arabia, having business dealings with them. However, he made it clear to reporters on Tuesday that he aims to separate his presidency from personal business interests, stating, “I have nothing to do with the family business,” while indicating they haven’t done much against Saudi Arabia.