AGENCIES
Riyadh, May 20: US President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia Saturday, marking the beginning of his first foreign trip as President that includes visits to Israel, the Vatican City, Belgium and Italy.
Trump and his wife Melania landed at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport around 9.45 a.m. and were greeted with an elaborate welcoming ceremony, punctuated by a military brass band, a fighter jet flyover and a handshake from Saudi King Salman, the New York Times reported. Melania stood near her husband without a headscarf, in the tradition of previous American first ladies.
She followed the example of her predecessor Michelle Obama, who during a visit to the country in 2015, attended several public events without a headscarf, ABC News reported. Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner were also traveling as part of the presidential entourage. Ivanka was also seen not wearing an abaya (traditional robe).
“Great to be in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Looking forward to the afternoon and evening ahead,” Trump tweeted shortly after his arrival. Trump was due to spend much of Saturday in meetings with King Salman and his government, including the powerful Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The US President’s trip was greeted with public enthusiasm. Huge billboards around the city featured Trump and King Salman, while the city’s roads were lined with alternating American and Saudi flags.
During his two-day visit, Trump is expected to announce a $100 billion-plus arms deal with Saudi Arabia as evidence of a renewed commitment by the United States to the security of the Gulf region, CNN reported. The Trumps will join the Saudi royal family for an official dinner Saturday night.
Coinciding with the start of his visit, Riyadh organised a Saudi-American business forum to strengthen investments and bilateral trade. Sunday, Trump will participate in a meeting with member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council as well as a summit with leaders and representatives from around 50 Middle Eastern and Islamic countries.
Sacked FBI Director James Comey has agreed to testify before a Congressional committee in an open session about alleged Russian interference in the US presidential polls last year. A date of this open hearing would be scheduled after the Memorial Day, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence said Friday. “The Committee looks forward to receiving testimony from the former (FBI) director on his role in the development of the Intelligence Community Assessment on Russian interference in the 2016 US elections,” Senator Richard Burr, chairman of the Committee, said. Comey’s abrupt sacking by President Donald Trump triggered a political firestorm with an angry opposition calling for an appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the alleged Russian influence in last year’s general elections.
