Trump pledges F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia, calls MBS 'phenomenal' on rights

On November 17, 2025, during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's first White House visit since the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, Donald Trump announced the United States would sell F-35 stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia, the first Arab country approved for the platform. Saudi Arabia has requested up to 48 jets worth $25 to $30 billion. The Saudi variant will be downgraded from Israel's, omitting the AIM-260 advanced missile and Israeli-only modifications to preserve Israel's Qualitative Military Edge under the 2008 Arms Export Control Act. A formal QME review and Congressional approval are still required. The following evening Trump designated Saudi Arabia a Major Non-NATO Ally (the 21st overall and 9th in MENA) at a black-tie dinner attended by Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Donald Trump Jr. Asked about Khashoggi the same day, Trump told reporters MBS had done "a phenomenal job" and an "incredible" job "in terms of human rights," contradicting the U.S. intelligence finding that MBS approved the killing. The announcement landed alongside active Trump-family Saudi business: Dar Global's Trump Tower Jeddah (December 2024) and Trump Plaza Jeddah (September 2025), and Jared Kushner's Saudi-funded Affinity Partners.