President Trump and his entourage received a Red Carpet royal welcome in Saudi Arabia with the ailing King Salman bin Abdulaziz greeting the President and the First Lady in person. It was a far different, warmer welcome than the one Barack Obama received when he first visited the kingdom in 2009 where he was perceived as very weak and apologized for the sins of America.
President Donald Trump received by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (R) during a reception ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 20, 2017. Credit: Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
The welcome The Trumps received was much warmer filled with all the pomp and circumstance with the King meeting them on the Red Carpet. The king reached out to shake First Lady Melania Trump’s hand and also Ivanka Trump’s hand later, breaking away from the tradition of the conservation kingdom.
A Red Carpet royal welcome as Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud personally welcomes President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump during a reception ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 20, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy, the Vatican and Belgium has been billed by the White House as a chance to visit places sacred to three of the world’s major religions, while giving Trump time to meet with Arab, Israeli and European leaders.
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are greeted by the King and receive during a Welcome Ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Credit: AFP/Getty Images
With the world’s eyes on Trump and Saudi Arabia, the President and King Salman seemed at ease with each other, chatting through an interpreter. At the royal al-Yamama palace, the king decorated Trump with the King Abdulaziz medal, the country’s top civilian honor.
President Trump and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during a reception ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 20, 2017. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump and the Entrepreneurs seating with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during a reception ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 20, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
The two leaders exchanged tweets, Trump saying it was great to be in Riyadh and King Salman welcoming him.
“Mr. President, your visit will strengthen our strategic cooperation, lead to global security and stability,” King Salman said in a message on his official Twitter account in Arabic and English.
The Trumps were greeted ad accompanied by the Saudi King during their first official visit to the Kingdom as the First Couple of the United States. Credit:AFP/Getty
Trump’s decision to make his first official trip abroad to Saudi Arabia, followed by Israel, countries which both share his antagonism towards Iran, marks a contrast with Obama’s approach.
President Trump and First Lady receive royal welcome and are met by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 20, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Trump’s criticism of the nuclear deal Iran reached with the U.S. and five other world powers in 2015 pleases both Saudi Arabia and Israel, who accused Obama on “going soft” on Tehran.
Poll results showed on Saturday that Iranians had emphatically re-elected President Hassan Rouhani, architect of Iran’s still-fragile detente with the West.
