US-Saudi relations have significantly deteriorated following Washington’s war against Iran, which has caused regional blowback and led the US to consider withdrawing troops from the Gulf kingdom. Saudi Arabia’s refusal to allow the use of its bases for a key operation to clear the Strait of Hormuz, along with its concerns about the war’s destabilizing effects and the US’s subsequent threats, has strained the alliance. This animosity is further evidenced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s snub of the G7 summit and the kingdom’s push for a diplomatic resolution to de-escalate tensions, even as the UAE maintained a hardline stance. A memorandum of understanding, brokered last month, established a 60-day ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a timeframe for a permanent resolution, though Israeli officials remain opposed to its terms.
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During President Trump’s Middle Eastern trip, a custom mobile McDonald’s unit was deployed near the media center, highlighting the President’s known fondness for the fast-food chain. This visit, Trump’s first major international trip since his return to office, involved significant economic initiatives, with announced investment pledges totaling hundreds of billions of dollars. The warm reception, including a personal greeting by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, contrasted sharply with President Biden’s 2022 visit and signaled a significant shift in U.S.-Saudi relations. Experts characterized the trip as transactional and personality-driven, focusing on large-scale economic deals.
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Saudi Arabia’s announcement of a planned $600 billion investment and trade surge in the US over the next four years is generating considerable buzz, and for good reason. This massive influx of capital has the potential to significantly reshape the American economic landscape, but it’s also raising some serious questions and concerns.
The sheer scale of the investment is staggering, prompting speculation about its potential impact on various sectors. Will this investment primarily focus on established industries, or will we see a wave of new ventures springing up? Will this money be used strategically to bolster specific sectors of the American economy, or will its distribution be more diffuse?… Continue reading
As I sit here contemplating the newly released video showing a Saudi man filming locations ahead of the 9/11 attacks, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions. The fact that the hijackers were mostly Saudi and that this man potentially had advanced knowledge of the attacks is mind-boggling. The connection between Saudi Arabia and the 9/11 attacks has been an open secret for years, yet it still shocks me to see concrete evidence of the complicity.
The video footage was found in the Saudi man’s flat in the days following the attacks, along with an address book containing contact details of officials in the Saudi government at the time.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood