Bin Salman's Time
Trump defines bin Salman as 'my friend,' but in March of this year, during a speech at the investment forum in Miami, the US president claimed that bin Salman 'kisses my ass.' Bin Salman remained…
Assessment
Trump's description of MBS as a friend contrasts sharply with his crude public comment that MBS 'kisses my ass,' a remark that went unanswered by the Saudi side. Now, after Trump hosted the Syrian and Lebanese presidents, his advisors have quietly directed Riyadh to begin planning economic investments in Syria and Lebanon. The episode reveals the asymmetrical dynamics driving Saudi policy: MBS endures personal humiliation while being ordered to finance Trump's regional agenda.