Ahead of Trump’s visit to the Middle East: History of US-Saudi relations

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Donald Trump,Melania Trump
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, wave as they board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Friday, May 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Trump is visiting Saudi Arabia as his first stop on his first foreign trip as U.S. president.

The president’s first stop on the trip is Saudi Arabia, where he’ll address a summit of Arab and Muslim leaders. He is reportedly going to make a speech about the Muslim World during the summit.


What is the history of U.S.-Saudi relations?

The U.S. president is setting out on the nine-day overseas trip amidst controversy back home, where investigations are ongoing into whether his campaign associates collaborated with Russia to sway the election.

Trump left for the visit Friday alongside first lady Melania Trump, his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as well as a group of senior advisers and journalists covering the trip.

The president also plans to travel to Israel, the Vatican, Brussels and Sicily.