New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has stirred controversy by claiming that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was effectively “kissing my a**”, even as he described the current state of ties between Washington and Riyadh.
Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Florida, Trump referred to what he said was a conversation with the Saudi leader. “He didn’t think this was going to happen… he didn’t think he’d be kissing my a**… he thought it’d be just another American president that was a loser… but now he has to be nice to me,” Trump said, as reported by The Wire.
Despite the sharp remark, Trump also praised Mohammed bin Salman, calling him “a fantastic man” and “a warrior”, and said Saudi Arabia “can be very proud” of his leadership.
War reshapes regional ties
Trump’s comments come at a time when the US and Israel are engaged in a military campaign against Iran. The conflict began on February 28. It has greatly altered power dynamics in the Middle East.
Iran responded to the joint strikes by targeting Israel and US bases in the Gulf, escalating tensions across the region and disrupting oil markets.
Reports of private push for escalation
A recent report by New York Times said Mohammed bin Salman has been in touch with Trump in private discussions. According to the report, the Saudi leader described the war as a “historic opportunity” to weaken Iran’s government and urged continued military action.
The report, based on sources familiar with the talks, also suggested that Saudi Arabia supported stronger steps, including targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure.
However, Saudi Arabia has publicly denied pushing for a prolonged conflict. It has maintained that it supports a “peaceful resolution” while focusing on protecting itself from Iranian attacks.
Strategic ties show strain
Even as Trump mocked the Saudi leader, he indicated strong alignment with Gulf allies. He said Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE stood firmly with the US during the conflict, more than NATO allies.
At the same time, experts have warned that a prolonged war could expose Saudi Arabia to Iranian retaliation, especially against oil facilities, and create economic risks.
The current phase of US-Saudi ties reflects a mix of cooperation and caution. While both sides appear aligned on key regional goals, differences remain over how far the conflict with Iran should go.