McDiplomacy? Mobile McDonald's joins Donald Trump's Saudi Arabia itinerary
Saudi Arabia stationed a mobile McDonald's truck outside its Royal Court ahead of US President Donald Trump's arrival, in what many online called the 'ultimate sign of hospitality.' The double-decker unit—branded in both Arabic and English—quickly drew attention as journalists spotted the fast-food installation near the media hub known as 'Media Oasis.'Mike Wagenheim, a journalist with i24NEWS, confirmed the sighting on social media. 'Yes, it's a mobile McDonald's here in Riyadh,' he posted on X.This unusual setup, parked strategically near the venue hosting global media, added a surreal twist to a visit that was otherwise dominated by billion-dollar agreements and state-level diplomacy.The McDonald's truck was no coincidence. Trump's love for fast food, particularly McDonald's, is well known. He famously served fast food during White House banquets in his first term, and in October 2024, he was seen serving fries at a McDonald's outlet in Pennsylvania during his campaign. Though the restaurant chain stated it was not involved in that appearance, the association remains strong.
In Riyadh, Saudi authorities appeared to tailor even the smallest details of Trump's visit to his preferences. A user on X summed up the public reaction, writing: 'PLEASE tell me the Saudis are going to offer him some McDonald's. The ULTIMATE sign of hospitality.'
Trump's arrival on 13 May was met with full ceremonial honours. American and Saudi flags lined the roads. American-made police vehicles were visibly stationed across key locations. The moment Trump landed, he was greeted personally by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the tarmac—an honour rarely extended to visiting leaders.
Inside the airport's grand ceremonial hall, the president and his aides were welcomed with traditional Arabic coffee, served by attendants wearing ceremonial belts.Prince Turki al-Faisal, former Saudi intelligence chief and ambassador to both the UK and US, told Arab News: 'Our doors and hearts are open to you.'The warm welcome wasn't just symbolic. Riyadh and Washington signed a massive $142 billion defence sales agreement, described by the White House as the largest in history. The deals include cutting-edge equipment and services from US defence firms and form part of a broader $600 billion Saudi commitment to invest in the American economy.The agreements didn't stop at defence. Both nations signed memoranda of understanding covering joint training of Saudi forces, cooperation in infectious disease research, and collaboration between customs and law enforcement agencies—including a partnership between the Saudi Ministry of Interior and the FBI.US-made General Electric turbines worth $14.2 billion and Boeing 737-8 aircraft worth $4.8 billion are also part of the deal.During a bilateral meeting, President Trump and the Crown Prince made brief remarks to the press. Trump said: 'I really believe we like each other a lot.'
Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih echoed the mood at the Saudi-US Investment Forum, saying: 'Our bilateral relationship is one of the world's most significant geostrategic bonds, with economic cooperation and business partnerships at its core, and serves as a force for peace and global prosperity.' Commenting on the visit, Mona Yacoubian, Director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Newsweek: 'Trump's trip to the Gulf is a harbinger of this administration's foreign policy over the next four years: transactional rather than transformative, personality-driven, and crowned by headline-grabbing economic deals.'Trump's delegation includes top officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Tesla CEO and Trump adviser Elon Musk is also present and expected to speak at the investment forum.Trump's Middle East tour continues with planned visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates later this week. Both countries are expected to sign major trade and investment agreements, with Trump targeting deals that could reach a cumulative value of over $1 trillion.As for the mobile McDonald's in Riyadh, it remains unclear whether the president actually ordered a Big Mac. But as far as diplomatic gestures go, the Saudis made sure that even Trump's palate felt at home.
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