Trump voices shocking remark at Saudi Crown Prince – ‘kissing my a**’ | World | News

Donald Trump set off an awkward moment for Saudi Arabian officials when he appeared to mock Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a speech. Speaking at the Saudi-backed investment forum FII Priority Summit on Saturday, March 28, the US President shared details of a recent encounter with the country’s leaders and used the moment to highlight how he believes global perceptions of the US have changed under his presidency.

Mr Trump described how the US was seen as a “dead country” before becoming the “hottest country in the world”. He later said officials should have told Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, who also serves as Prime Minister, to “be nice” to him before using a rude remark that suggested the leader had underestimated him. “What kind of a man is he? […] “We bonded while I was there,” he said, adding that the Crown Prince “grabbed my arm to stand up” and said, “I think he likes me.” And he liked me, and he still does.”

Mr Trump then pivoted to a recent exchange, claiming the Saudi Crown Prince had praised the US comeback since his re-election in 2025: “He looked at me and said, you know, this is great. A year ago you were a dead country. Now you’re the hottest country anywhere in the world,” he said. “And that was before we kicked out Iran.”

“He didn’t think this would happen. He didn’t think he’d kiss my ass. He really didn’t. He thought [I] As one country goes downhill, the loser would be another American president. But now he has to be nice to me,” Mr. Trump said in comments that have since gone viral.

The forum at which the US leader is speaking attracts business leaders and political figures and is organized by a group affiliated with Saudi Arabia’s $1 trillion (£750bn) Public Investment Fund, which aims to promote investment opportunities in the Middle Eastern kingdom.

Mr Trump’s remarks about Crown Prince Salman came just days after a New York Times report claimed Saudi Arabia was in constant contact with the US, urging Iran to resume attacks and describing the conflict as a “historic opportunity” to reshape the region.

Mr. Trump went on to claim that the United States was close to replacing the Iranian regime. This came a day after it extended the deadline for talks with Iran and also postponed plans to attack the country’s energy infrastructure until April 6. Although Mr. Trump has repeatedly claimed that Tehran wants talks, Iranian officials continue to deny that formal talks are ongoing.

“We are closer than ever to the rise of a Middle East finally free from Iran’s terrorist attacks and nuclear blackmail,” he said, according to Bloomberg. “Iran has been known as the tyrant of the Middle East for 47 years, but they are no longer tyrants. They are running away.”

Referring to Iran’s retaliatory drone and missile attacks on its Gulf allies, Trump added, “We saved not only Israel, but also the Middle East, and all the rockets fired at you proved it. Saudi Arabia was hit hard.” Iranian attacks reportedly targeted key Saudi energy infrastructure, including the Ras Tanura refinery and the Shaybah oil field, which has a production capacity of approximately one million barrels of crude oil per day.

Mr. Trump also insisted that any peace deal would require Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route. “We are currently negotiating […] “But they need to open it,” he said, jokingly calling it the “Trump Strait”; later dismissing the comment by saying “accidents don’t happen to me.”