President Donald Trump will host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a working lunch at the White House Tuesday afternoon.
The two leaders are expected to discuss ongoing threats in the Middle East. Specifically, the expansion of Iranian power and destabilization efforts will be a main focus.
“The President looks forward to discussing ways to strengthen ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia and to advance our common security and economic priorities,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said about the meeting.
Bin Salman has been in the United States for a number of days and participated in an extensive 60 Minutes interview over the weekend. During the interview, he called Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei the “new Hitler.”
The meeting comes nearly a year after President Trump visited Saudi Arabia as the first country on his tour of the Middle East. During the visit, Trump have an expansive speech and called on leaders in the region to reject Islamic terrorism.
“If we do not act against this organized terror, then we know what will happen. Terrorism’s devastation of life will continue to spread. Peaceful societies will become engulfed by violence. And the futures of many generations will be sadly squandered,” Trump said. “If we do not stand in uniform condemnation of this killing—then not only will we be judged by our people, not only will we be judged by history, but we will be judged by God.”
“This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations,” he continued. “This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it.”
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The United States also entered into a $110 billion military purchase deal from the Saudis during Trump’s visit.
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