President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump rolled out an unusually extravagant welcome for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a White House state dinner this week. The couple posed with the crown prince on the red-carpet entrance before the event, where a lip reader later shared what appeared to be the brief exchange between the three.
According to the Irish Star, Trump greeted the crown prince with a firm handshake and a warm “Hello, my friend,” while introducing Melania. Melania reportedly replied, “I am honored that you are here, thank you,” maintaining her trademark reserved composure. Her appearance in a fitted emerald-green gown was widely covered by entertainment outlets, especially as renewed discussion swirled around claims from a former aide about why she would never leave Trump.
The dinner was part of a broader show of pageantry that the administration staged for the crown prince. Earlier in the day, he received a lavish arrival ceremony on the South Lawn—the most elaborate welcome extended to any foreign leader during Trump’s second term. The display included a military band, formal procession, and a dramatic flyover by F-35 and F-15 fighter jets.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit marked his first return to the White House since the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. U.S. intelligence agencies previously concluded that the crown prince likely approved the operation that led to Khashoggi’s killing, a tragedy that deeply strained relations between Washington and Riyadh. The crown prince has continued to deny any involvement, despite international scrutiny and bipartisan concern in Congress.
While the White House emphasized economic and security cooperation during the visit, many observers questioned the decision to celebrate the crown prince with such an opulent reception—especially given the unresolved human rights issues that continue to shadow his leadership.
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