Washington DC – US President Donald Trump hosted Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday in a grand ceremony that included a military flyover and a performance by the US Marine Band. Among the distinguished guests at the event was Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Saudi club Al Nassr.
Ronaldo, whose legendary career spanned two decades at top European clubs, joined Al Nassr after the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Recently, the football icon spoke warmly of Trump, calling him “one of the guys who can help change the world” in an interview with journalist Piers Morgan. Ronaldo expressed his admiration for Trump’s ability to make things happen, adding that he was eager to meet him.
During the White House dinner, Trump singled out Ronaldo, thanking him for attending and joking that his youngest son, Barron, was now a “big fan” after meeting the footballer. The moment was shared on social media by the White House, posting a video of Trump and Ronaldo walking together, laughing, with the caption “Two GOATS” – a reference to the “Greatest Of All Time” in sports. Ronaldo reshared the video on his own Instagram account.
The evening also saw important business discussions. Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced that Saudi Arabia was increasing its planned investments in the US to $1 trillion, up from the $600 billion announced during Trump’s visit to Riyadh in May. The Crown Prince echoed Trump’s sentiments, calling the US “the hottest country on the planet” for foreign investment. Trump reciprocated by designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, a symbolic move that opens the door for enhanced defence, trade, and security cooperation between the two nations.
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