Trump's first foreign trip, Saudi Arabian king with cane to welcome him

(Baonghean.vn) - Amid domestic controversies, on May 20, US President Donald Trump kicked off a 9-day foreign trip, seeking to divert attention from the political storm after he fired former FBI Director James Comey last week.

Trump and his wife step off the plane in the capital Riyadh on May 20. Photo: Reuters.

Faced with a series of delicate diplomatic meetings ahead, including three summits, Mr. Trump is challenged to advance his “America First” agenda without alienating key allies on his first foreign trip.

Stepping off Air Force One with his wife Melania, Trump and his entourage were greeted with a red carpet by Saudi Arabia's King Salman.

The White House sees the trip as an opportunity to visit sites associated with the world's three major religions, as well as an opportunity for Trump to meet with leaders of Saudi Arabia, Israel and Europe.

But the turmoil in Washington threatened to overshadow the trip. Trump’s firing of Comey and the appointment of a special prosecutor by the Justice Department to investigate his campaign’s ties to Russia last year were all over the news in a negative light.

The New York Times reported that Trump called Comey a “moron” in a private meeting last week in the Oval Office with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Ambassador to the United Nations Sergei Kislyak.

The White House did not deny the information, but stated that “the truth is that our national security has been undermined by the leak of private and classified conversations.”

Saudi Arabia's supreme leader, leaning on a cane, welcomed Mr. Trump to Riyadh. Photo: Reuters

Trump and King Salman appeared comfortable meeting, talking through an interpreter. The king leaned on his cane to greet Trump on the tarmac, while a military band played, cannons roared and seven Saudi Arabian planes flew in a V formation, leaving red, white and blue smoke trails in the sky.

The two leaders sat side by side in the VIP area of ​​the airport lounge and enjoyed Arabica coffee. “Do you spend a lot of time in New York?” Mr. Trump was heard asking the king.

On the way to the Ritz Hotel - where Mr. Trump stayed during the visit, King Salman accompanied the US President in a carefully bulletproof limousine nicknamed "The Beast".

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud welcomes the US President to visit Saudi Arabia. Photo: Reuters.

Arms deal

After the royal reception, Trump and the king are scheduled to have private talks and participate in a signing ceremony for several US-Saudi agreements, including a deal for Saudi Arabia to buy US arms worth $100 billion.

Saudi Arabia's oil giant Aramco is expected to sign deals worth up to $50 billion with U.S. companies on May 20, part of efforts to diversify the kingdom's economy beyond oil exports, Aramco Chief Executive Amin Nasser said.

On May 21, Trump will deliver a speech in Riyadh to rally Muslims in the fight against Islamic extremists. He will also attend a summit with Gulf leaders as part of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council.

Shortly after taking office, Trump sought to block people from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, but the travel ban was blocked by federal courts.

The 70-year-old president's trip to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy and Belgium will be his longest time away from the White House since taking office four months ago.

Thu Giang

(According to CNN)