A recent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly became tense when the discussion turned to Saudi Arabia’s potential entry into the Abraham Accords and the possibility of normalising relations with Israel. According to two U.S. officials cited by a media outlet, Trump had gone into the meeting expecting movement toward a breakthrough, especially following the ceasefire that paused the fighting in Gaza.
Trump was said to be disappointed when MBS did not commit to normalisation despite being told in advance by White House officials that the president wanted clear “progress” on the Abraham Accords. During their November 18 discussion, Trump pushed firmly for Saudi participation in the pact, which brought several Arab states into diplomatic agreements with Israel during his first term and was seen as one of his key foreign-policy achievements.
Officials said the tone shifted once Israel was mentioned. MBS explained that while he is open to eventually normalising ties, the current climate in Saudi Arabia makes it impossible. He reportedly told Trump that public sentiment is firmly against Israel in the aftermath of the Gaza genocide, leaving no space for a diplomatic move at this stage. Despite the tension, both leaders remained civil, though the conversation was described as difficult.
Sources characterised the mood as one of disappointment on Trump’s part, noting that he “tried very hard” to convince MBS but that the crown prince “stood his ground.” MBS reiterated a long-standing Saudi condition: Israel must agree to an “irreversible, credible, and time-bound path” toward a Palestinian state before a peace deal can be finalised. U.S. officials stressed that Saudi Arabia has not closed the door on future normalisation, but progress hinges on a viable two-state solution.
A White House official said Trump views broad Middle Eastern participation in the Abraham Accords as essential for regional stability, especially now that Iran’s nuclear program has been “obliterated” and the war in Gaza has ended.
During their public appearance last week, Trump told MBS he would provide Saudi Arabia with the same advanced F-35 fighter jets that Israel possesses. However, the next day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reassured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that this would not happen. U.S. and Israeli officials said Rubio clarified that if a deal proceeds, Saudi Arabia would receive a downgraded version of the aircraft. Washington also emphasised that the U.S. remains committed to Israel’s legally mandated qualitative military edge and will ensure that any agreement with Saudi Arabia does not compromise that standard.
