Trump demands a $1 trillion investment and a reduction in oil prices from Saudi Arabia and ‘fantastic guy’ MBS

The White House announced on Thursday that President Donald Trump’s first call in office was with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, sending a clear message about his priorities for the next four years.

American intelligence services believe MBS (as he is known) approved the murder of a Washington Post journalist in 2018 and the Biden administration handled Saudi relations with caution.

Trump made clear he has no such reservations when he described the crown prince as a ‘fantastic guy.’

The White House said the two discussed efforts to bring stability to the Middle East and combat terrorism.

‘Additionally, they discussed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s international economic ambitions over the next four years as well as trade and other opportunities to increase the mutual prosperity of the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,’ it said.

Earlier it was reported that Saudi Arabia would be investing $600 billion in the U.S.

Trump in a speech to the World Economic Forum said he wanted more and that he would be asking for a reduction in oil prices

‘It’s also reported today in the papers that Saudi Arabia will be investing at least $600 billion in America,’ he said.

‘But I’ll be asking the crown prince, who’s a fantastic guy, to round it out to around one trillion. I think they’ll do that, because we’ve been very good to them. 

‘And I’m also going to ask Saudi Arabia and OPEC to bring down the cost of oil.’

The crown prince is the de facto ruler of the oil-rich kingdom.

And the call demonstrated Trump’s political deal-making style of relationship building.

During his first presidency, he upended protocol and tradition by making Saudi Arabia the destination for his first foreign trip.

On Monday, hours after being sworn in, he reminisced about the trip   

‘The first foreign trip typically has been with the U.K. but … I did it with Saudi Arabia last time because they agreed to buy $450 billion worth of our products,’ he told journalists in the Oval Office. 

‘If Saudi Arabia wanted to buy another $450 billion or $500 – we’ll up it for all the inflation – I think I’d probably go.’

Trump built close ties with Saudi Arabia during his first administration, which continued when he left office. 

His golf courses hosted hosting tournaments for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, for example, and the Trump Organization announced a string of projects in Saudi Arabia in December, as well as a $533 Trump Tower in Jeddah.

But Saudi Arabia is frequently accused of human rights abuses.

Concerns came to a head in 2018 when Saudi agents murdered and dismembered Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi, a U.S. resident, at their consulate in Istanbul.

This time around Trump has made clear that he wants Saudi Arabia to sign up to the Abraham Accords, and normalize relations with Israel.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also spoken with the Saudi crown prince. 

A State Department readout said they discussed the ‘strength of the U.S.-Saudi partnership in this time of momentous change.’