Trump meets Saudi prince, hails arms sales to kingdom
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump gave a warm welcome to Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday and credited US defence sales to the Saudis with boosting American jobs, even as Riyadh’s involvement in Yemen’s civil war faced criticism.
In the Oval Office, Trump and the crown prince praised the strength of US-Saudi ties.
The two discussed an agreement last year for $200 billion worth of Saudi investments with the United States, including large purchases of US military equipment. Trump said the military sales contributed to the creation of 40,000 American jobs.
REPUBLICAN SENATORS CRITICISE CALL TO PUTIN
Some Republican lawmakers criticised Trump for calling Russian President Vladimir Putin to congratulate him on his re-election.
John McCain, “An American president does not lead the free world by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said calling Putin “wouldn’t have been high on my list.”
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders noted that former President Barack Obama made a similar call at the time of Putin’s last electoral victory.