Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday during his visit to Washington, highlighting economic and security cooperation while human rights concerns remained largely unaddressed.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump hosted bin Salman at the White House, where the two discussed bilateral ties and the crown prince’s planned investments in the U.S. Several Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, attended a formal dinner in his honour.
Bin Salman’s visit marks a shift in U.S. engagement since 2018, when the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents drew widespread condemnation. The crown prince has denied personally ordering the killing but has acknowledged responsibility as Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler. In 2019, Congress passed a resolution urging an end to U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, which was blocked by a presidential veto.
On Capitol Hill, bin Salman attended a private reception hosted by Speaker Johnson with participation from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. The meeting did not include public remarks or photo opportunities. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast described the discussion as covering a range of topics, including Saudi Arabia’s domestic future, relations with Israel and Gaza, technology transfers, and efforts to address Chinese espionage.
During the visit, bin Salman also participated in an investment conference with U.S. business leaders. He and Trump agreed to increase Saudi investment in the United States from $600 billion to $1 trillion. The two sides also announced agreements on arms sales, civil nuclear cooperation, and artificial intelligence projects.
Some lawmakers expressed concerns about human rights and oversight of the agreements. Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called for briefings on the agreements and raised questions about potential impacts on U.S. interests.
The crown prince’s visit underscores ongoing U.S.-Saudi engagement on economic and security issues while highlighting continuing debate in Congress over human rights and accountability.
