Trump in the desert but under a cloud
Donald Trump arrived in the Saudi Arabian desert yesterday but his first foreign trip as president was overshadowed by scandal at home.
Fired FBI director James Comey is to testify to a Senate committee about his inquiry into Russian meddling in last year’s presidential election.
Critics accuse Trump of sacking Comey in a bid to impede the rapidly growing investigation into his aides’ Russian links.
Trump described Comey as a “nut job” to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and added that the sacking had taken “great pressure” off him.
The Saudis laid on a lavish welcome for Trump, who once called for Muslims to be banned from the US, and gave him their highest civilian medal.
He is tougher on their enemy Iran than predecessor Barack Obama and is not expected to ask questions about their human rights record.