Saudi Crown Prince Receives Warmer Welcome in Visit to US Congress

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a notably warmer reception in Washington on Wednesday as he met U.S. Congress lawmakers, marking a clear shift from the confrontational tone that once defined his relationship with Congress.

The visit followed his meeting with Donald Trump on Tuesday, where the president defended him against long-standing criticism over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. U.S. intelligence had previously concluded the crown prince approved the operation, a finding Trump downplayed during the talks.

The crown prince’s trip coincided with the rollout of several major U.S.–Saudi initiatives, including new defense deals, civil-nuclear cooperation, and technology partnerships. The agreements reflect a mutual effort to deepen economic and security ties despite ongoing human-rights concerns.

• Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives warmer welcome in US Congress
• New defense and tech partnerships highlight strengthened U.S.–Saudi ties
• Shift in congressional tone marks MBS’s renewed influence in Washington

Some lawmakers who once harshly criticized the crown prince struck a more restrained tone. Senator Marco Rubio, who had previously called him a “gangster,” attended the White House meeting without repeating earlier accusations.

However, not all members of Congress welcomed the shift. Representative Jim McGovern condemned the meetings, pointing to Khashoggi’s killing and questioning the decision to hold high-level engagements with the Saudi leader. Other critics argued that the new partnerships may serve Riyadh more than Washington.

For Mohammed bin Salman, the visit signals a rehabilitation of sorts. Once sidelined in U.S. political circles over the Yemen conflict and the Khashoggi murder, he now appears to have regained significant ground in Washington.

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Whether the softened approach in Congress will lead to lasting policy alignment remains uncertain, especially as Saudi Arabia navigates its relationships with regional powers and China. For now, however, the change in tone on Capitol Hill is unmistakable.