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7 months ago
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Donald Trump has spoke with Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed bin Salman in what is thought to be their first meeting since he left the White House in 2021.
The exact nature of the discussion between the former president and Saudi leader has not been disclosed, sources told the New York Times.
It comes as president Biden is attempting to broker a delicate peace deal in the Middle East.
The trilateral agreement he is seeking would likely include a Saudi-Israeli peace treaty, an Israeli commitment to a two-state solution and a US-Saudi understanding on defense and a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia.
President Joe Biden is attempting to foster relationships first forged during the Trump administration, but which were then tarnished during his presidential campaign.
Donald Trump has met with Saudi Arabia 's Prince Mohammed bin Salman in what is thought to be their first meeting since he left the White House in 2021
It comes as president joe Biden is attempting to broker a delicate peace deal in the Middle East
The president had promised to treat the crown prince as a 'pariah' after the CIA ruled that he had likely orchestrated the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018
Biden had previously promised to treat the crown prince as a 'pariah' after the CIA ruled that he had likely orchestrated the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
The matter did not appear to worry Trump, who managed to shield bin Salman amid intense scrutiny from Congress following the findings.
Just nine months after Khashoggi's killing, Trump referred to Prince Mohammed as 'a friend of mine' and praised his 'spectacular job' modernizing Saudi Arabia's laws to allow women to drive.
The relationship and major deals he was able to secure are extremely important to Trump, as was evidenced when he took office and chose to visit Saudi Arabia for his first foreign trip.
The connection has also been of benefit to his son-in-law and former White House adviser Jared Kushner, whose investment firm, Affinity Partners, won $2 billion from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Prince Mohammed personally intervened to overrule advisers who felt Kushner was too inexperienced.
Trump has also flexed his Saudi connections since leaving the White House by securing a deal with the Omani government and a Saudi company for a multibillion-dollar Trump-branded property development in Oman.
The deal was finalized as Trump was preparing to announce his third presidential run in 2022.
Trump was unfazed by the allegations against Prince Mohammed and continued to foster a warm relationship with him
The exact nature of the discussion between the former president and Saudi leader has not been disclosed, sources told the New York Times
The Saudi prince is not the only foreign dignitary Trump has been liaising with. Last month, he welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to Mar-a-Lago
Trump has also hosted the Saudi-backed LIV golf tour at some of his golf courses despite controversy around the league.
As the presumptive Republican nominee, Trump is now poised to direct any future deals with Saudi Arabia since Biden will need support from two thirds of the Senate to ratify any deal. Currently, Democrats hold a slim majority.
The Saudi prince is not the only foreign dignitary Trump has been liaising with in recent weeks.
Last month, he welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to Mar-a-Lago.
Trump has publicly praised Orbán at his rallies. The Hungarian politician has become an icon to some conservative populists for championing what he calls 'illiberal democracy,' replete with restrictions on immigration and LGBTQ+ rights.
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