WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s inaugural communication with a foreign leader since assuming office was with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, a nation where Trump and his family maintain substantial ongoing – and anticipated – business connections.

The two leaders emphasized their commitment to achieving stability in the Middle East, enhancing regional security, combating terrorism, and fostering economic growth. They also explored Saudi Arabia’s “international economic objectives for the forthcoming four years along with trade and other avenues to enhance the prosperity of both the United States and the oil-rich nation.”

This information comes from a summary released by the White House following the call, which took place on Wednesday, Trump’s second day in office.

Notably absent from the brief official statement was whether the conversation included discussions about the Trump family’s real estate ventures in Saudi Arabia — potentially valued in the billions — or their shared interest in the Trump-sanctioned, Saudi-financed LIV Golf tour.

Watchdog organizations informally contacted by YSL News voiced their concerns that this call might indicate Trump’s intent to leverage his substantial new political power and influence to benefit the Trump Organization and its extensive business interests.

Neither the White House, the Trump Organization, nor the Saudi embassy in Washington responded to inquiries regarding whether Trump’s outreach to the Saudi leader raises potential conflict of interest issues.

The Trump Organization, which is Trump’s primary business apparatus for a worldwide network of real estate and various ventures, recently assured that throughout Trump’s second term, “the Company will not engage in any significant new transactions or agreements with foreign governments.”

However, this new policy does not prohibit transactions between the Trump Organization and private foreign entities, differing from regulations during Trump’s initial administration.

A continuation of a long-standing alliance

Supporters of Trump assert that the call with MBS, as the Crown Prince is often referred to, represents a continuation of the strong bond they developed during Trump’s previous term. The former and current president has consistently lauded the affluent Saudi leader for his global strategic ambitions, both politically and personally.

Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who served as a senior advisor in the White House, also praised Bin Salman. Kushner’s investment firm received $2 billion from Saudi Arabia soon after he left office in 2021, and he continues to maintain regular communication with the Crown Prince.

Trump believes that his re-established political relationship with Bin Salman could greatly benefit the U.S. economy.

During their discussion on Wednesday, the Crown Prince informed Trump of his commitment to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, according to a statement shared by the Saudi government. On Thursday, Trump mentioned in virtual remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that he would seek even higher investments from bin Salman.

“I’ll be asking the Crown Prince, who’s a remarkable person, to raise the investment to around $1 trillion,” Trump said via video. “I believe they will agree, given how well we’ve treated them.”

Trump isn’t the first president who reaches out to the Saudis and the prince

Trump has nurtured personal relationships with various foreign leaders, including those from nations where he lacks business interests. Historically, most U.S. presidents have aimed for strong ties with Saudi Arabia since the discovery of oil there in 1938, due to its strategic significance to both America and the wider region.

In his first term, Trump chose Riyadh as his first destination on a foreign trip, breaking the pattern where recent presidents visited the United Kingdom first. That trip in May 2017 raised concerns among watchdog groups, emphasizing the Trump administration’s connections with the rulers of several wealthy Gulf nations, coinciding with the Trump Organization’s endeavors to secure real estate deals in the area.

The visit also indicated Trump’s desire to mend the historically strained U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia seen during the Obama administration, as cited by various news reports at the time.

The U.S.-Saudi relationship experienced ups and downs during President Biden’s term, where he indicated a desire to regard bin Salman and his royal family as “pariahs” in response to the government’s involvement in the brutal killing of U.S.-Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. U.S. intelligence agencies claimed that MBS personally approved the heinous act, which took place in a Saudi consulate in Turkey in 2018.

In July 2022, Biden faced backlash for meeting with Saudi Arabia and greeting MBS with a fist bump. Just three months later, bin Salman publicly snubbed Biden when OPEC+, the coalition of oil-exporting nations, decided to reduce oil production by 2 million barrels per day, leading to higher gas prices in the U.S.

In his remarks on Thursday at Davos, Trump noted he would request that Riyadh and OPEC reduce oil prices.

“They need to bring it down, which honestly, I’m surprised they didn’t do prior to the election. That didn’t show much loyalty on their part for not taking action,” he remarked. “I was somewhat taken aback by that. If prices fell, the Russia-Ukraine conflict would conclude immediately. As it stands, prices are sufficiently high to prolong that war. Oil prices need to be lowered.”

‘Concerning’ that Trump’s primary call was to the Saudi Crown Prince

Noah Bookbinder, the president of the watchdog organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, expressed concern that “Donald Trump’s initial call to a foreign leader was directed to the Saudi leader.”

The Trump Organization stands to gain significantly from favorable relations with government officials in Riyadh, while the kingdom could likewise benefit from Trump’s policies, Bookbinder and other watchdogs noted, possibly receiving more favorable foreign policies and lucrative military contracts.

The decisions made by these governments concerning Trump’s properties might be swayed by their aim to gain favor with the president, which raises questions about possible undue influence, they argue. Furthermore, they suggest that Trump might feel pressure, whether consciously or not, to prioritize the interests of nations where he has business ties over the national interest.

“In his first administration, Saudi Arabia brought considerable business to Trump’s properties, and in return, Trump made policy choices favorable to the country, including seemingly overlooking the Saudi government’s role in Khashoggi’s murder.”

Trump revealed to journalist Bob Woodward that he shielded Saudi Arabia from repercussions following Khashoggi’s death and endorsed a significant $110 billion arms deal with Riyadh.

Doug Heye, an established Republican strategist and former staffer in the White House and Congress, commented that Trump’s openness to embrace the Saudi leader is wise due to the kingdom’s ascending influence on the world stage.

“I think it’s simply a reality,” Heye stated to YSL News on Friday. “Regardless of the nuances, many have pursued such relationships. Given Trump’s straightforwardly transactional approach, it’s clear why he is engaging this way.”

While Trump may enjoy personal advantages from this relationship,

Heye pointed out that Trump’s efforts to secure an additional $400 million from bin Salman, on top of the $600 million already promised for Saudi investments in the U.S., could be advantageous for both America and its national interests.

“These two aspects are tightly connected to Trump,” Heye explained. “They cannot be viewed independently; they represent two facets of the same issue.”

In July of last year, CREW published a report stating that Trump profited up to $160 million through international businesses during his presidency, primarily from dealings with Saudi Arabia. Additionally, a congressional oversight committee report from January 2024 indicated that significant funds were directed to the Trump Organization from various governments, including those of Saudi Arabia, China, and the United Arab Emirates.

Currently, Bookbinder spoke with YSL News about Trump’s increased business relationships with Saudi Arabia. These include a Saudi-backed LIV golf tournament set to take place at one of his properties, a new real estate project in Saudi Arabia, and partnerships with Saudi companies on other developments.

Several of Trump’s golf courses have hosted LIV events, which serve as an alternative to the PGA Tour, with three tournaments held in 2023 at Trump National Golf Club in Washington D.C., Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., and Trump National Doral in Miami. Another LIV event is scheduled for early April at Doral.

“His choice to reach out to Saudi Arabia first suggests that these business deals may be influencing policy decisions favorably for Saudi Arabia,” Bookbinder noted.

A few weeks prior to Trump’s return to the White House, coinciding with the implementation of a new ethics pledge, the Trump Organization revealed that it had licensed its brand for two new real estate developments in Saudi Arabia. Eric Trump, responsible for the real estate interests of the Trump Organization, indicated that this project follows the “remarkable success” of a large golf resort in nearby Oman, alongside other recent projects in Dubai and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“I have no involvement with Washington, D.C. nor do I want any,” Eric Trump responded when questioned about possible conflicts of interest.

A source close to Kushner informed YSL News last July that there were no legal or ethical breaches during his time in government, claiming the Saudis’ $2 billion investment in his Affinity Partners fund occurred because they held trust and respect for him based on their previous interactions.

Nevertheless, Trump’s communication with MBS and actions like the real estate deals made prior to his inauguration raise concerns that Trump might “be using the agreements he has established,” according to Danielle Brian, executive director and president of the Project on Government Oversight in Washington.

“It is important to recognize that, in Saudi Arabia, the lines between government and business are considerably blurred,” she added regarding the Trump Organization’s operations in the region.