The remarkable about-face comes after Biden first started softening his approach to Saudi Arabia at the start of the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022 amid the pressure the conflict put on the world’s energy supply and the kingdom’s control of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, with the pair famously fist-bumping later that year in Jeddah.
Years later, Bin Salman, who has been using Saudi Arabia’s resources to rehabilitate his and his kingdom’s image – for example, through what has become known as sportswashing with the LIV Golf League – ingratiated himself with Trump this spring during the president’s Middle East tour, Trump’s first overseas trip of his second presidency.
“This is a big deal because Prince Mohamed was not invited to the Biden White
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