Elon Musk Joins Trump in Lavish Saudi Welcome Surrounded by Billionaires and Fighter Jets

Elon Musk Joins Trump in Lavish Saudi Welcome Surrounded by Billionaires and Fighter Jets

Elon Musk accompanied President Donald Trump on May 13, 2025, as the two arrived in Riyadh to a grand royal welcome by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi F-15 fighter jets escorted Air Force One, while Arabian horses carrying U.S. and Saudi flags flanked the motorcade en route to the Royal Court. Musk, now less involved in U.S. governance but still a close Trump adviser, was seen smiling and shaking hands with MbS inside the opulent palace. Trump and Musk joined a high-profile luncheon attended by major corporate leaders, including BlackRock’s Larry Fink, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Amazon’s Andy Jassy, Palantir’s Alex Karp, and Google’s Ruth Porat. Trump, praising MbS as a “friend,” reflected on their relationship since 2017. The visit included a 21-gun salute, a coffee ceremony, and extended private talks focused on economic partnerships and foreign investment.

If America had a monarchy, this is what it would look like—Trump playing sultan and Musk grinning like a Bond villain with a goofy smile and a pocket full of Viagra.