Walking on the Royal Purple Carpet and Tasting Traditional Arabic Coffee
Crown Prince Welcomes with a Two-Handed Handshake
On the 13th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump, who embarked on a Middle East tour, arrived in Saudi Arabia and received a warm welcome from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of the country.
According to foreign media outlets such as the Associated Press and The New York Times, President Trump arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on the morning of the same day and was greeted by Crown Prince bin Salman.
On the 13th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and was greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Photo by Yonhap News
The welcome for President Trump began even before his plane landed. Thirty minutes prior to landing, three F-15 fighter jets from the Saudi Air Force closely escorted Air Force One on both sides. Dan Scavino, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, posted a video of the F-15 escort taken directly from Air Force One on X (formerly Twitter), along with a message expressing gratitude for the escort and the strong protection provided for President Trump.
From the stairs of Air Force One at the airport, a purple carpet was laid out. Since 2021, the Saudi royal family has been using a purple carpet instead of the traditional red carpet to welcome high-level guests.
Crown Prince bin Salman greeted President Trump with a broad smile. The Crown Prince extended both hands for a handshake, and President Trump placed his left hand on the Crown Prince's shoulder, demonstrating their close relationship.
After exchanging greetings with Crown Prince bin Salman, President Trump moved into a building at the airport, where he was served traditional Saudi Arabian coffee. Another 'coffee ceremony' was held at the Saudi royal palace. This time, President Trump's official car, "The Beast," was escorted by Arabian horses, and not only President Trump but also his aides and business leaders attended in large numbers.
President Trump walked on the purple carpet into the royal palace, which featured marble floors, blue walls, gold decorations throughout, and enormous crystal chandeliers. President Trump and Crown Prince bin Salman had lunch together, joined by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla; Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone; Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock; and other top executives from major U.S. companies who accompanied the delegation.
This personal welcome by Crown Prince bin Salman at the airport stands in stark contrast to the reception given to former President Joe Biden three years ago. In 2017, following the assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, for which Crown Prince bin Salman was accused of being responsible, relations between Biden and the Crown Prince remained strained for a long time. In 2022, during Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia aimed at resetting bilateral relations, it was Khalid Al-Faisal, the governor of Mecca, who greeted him at the airport, not the Crown Prince. After arriving at the royal palace, Biden exchanged a fist bump with Crown Prince bin Salman. There was speculation that Biden deliberately avoided a handshake with the Crown Prince in front of the cameras.
Crown Prince bin Salman is also scheduled to host an official banquet in honor of President Trump's visit. Later in the day, President Trump will deliver a speech at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
