Why Trump’s Bond With the Saudi Prince Still Sparks 9/11 Debates
Trump’s meeting with Crown Prince MBS has reopened debates about U.S.–Saudi relations. The event gained extra attention after Ronaldo and other global figures were seen attending.
A lot has been happening between U.S. President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), and long-standing questions linked to the 9/11 attacks. The 9/11 tragedy in 2001 killed nearly 3,000 people, and fifteen of the nineteen hijackers were Saudi nationals. Because of this, suspicion has continued for years about whether Saudi officials, individuals, or institutions had any role or prior knowledge.
On 18th November, Crown Prince MBS visited the United States and met Trump. He received a high-profile welcome and public support, which upset many 9/11 victim families who still believe Saudi Arabia has not been fully transparent.
Another major reason for global criticism is the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. U.S. intelligence later concluded the killing was approved by the Crown Prince. Saudi Arabia denied this but admitted its agents were responsible.
During the meeting, MBS said Saudi Arabia was also hurt by 9/11. He claimed Osama bin Laden chose Saudi hijackers to damage Saudi–U.S relations. When a reporter questioned Trump about the Khashoggi case, he defended MBS and called the reporter “terrible.”
A U.S. law called JASTA allows families of 9/11 victims to sue foreign governments. Because of this, Saudi Arabia still faces legal cases in U.S. courts.
Another highlight was the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays in the Saudi football league and promotes Saudi tourism. Many other well-known personalities, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Elon Musk, also attended. Photos and videos from the event quickly went viral online.
