How Saudi Arabia Bought Trump – And What They Want: Unraveling the Kingdom’s Growing Influence in America
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has embarked on a strategic campaign to extend its influence far beyond its borders. Moving beyond its long-standing role as the world’s oil superpower, the Kingdom is investing billions into American businesses, sports, and political ventures. At the center of this unprecedented influx of money is a close and highly scrutinized relationship between the Saudi royal family and former U.S. President Donald Trump and his associates.
This deepening partnership has sparked widespread debate about foreign influence, national security, and the future of U.S. foreign policy. The video “How Saudi Arabia Bought Trump – And What They Want,” produced by Perfect Union, provides a revealing look into how and why Saudi Arabia has built such close ties to Trump and his inner circle—and what the Kingdom hopes to gain in return.
The Foundation of a Profitable Relationship
Saudi Arabia’s interest in Trump began long before he became president. In the 1990s, when Trump’s real estate empire faced severe financial challenges, it was the Saudi royal family that stepped in with cash and lucrative deals. These early business ties laid the groundwork for a relationship that would only deepen during and after Trump’s presidency.
During Trump’s time in the White House, Saudi Arabia found an unprecedented ally. Trump’s first foreign trip as president was to Riyadh, where he was welcomed with extravagant ceremonies and struck a $110 billion arms deal. He consistently defended the Kingdom on the world stage—even after the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, which U.S. intelligence agencies concluded was likely ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
Billions in Business: The Post-Presidency Windfall
When Trump left office, Saudi investments into his orbit accelerated. The most prominent example is the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) $2 billion investment in a private equity fund managed by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former senior advisor. This deal, made just months after Trump’s presidency ended, raised eyebrows among ethics experts, as Kushner had played a major role in shaping Middle East policy.
Saudi money also flowed directly into Trump’s businesses. The Kingdom and its allies have spent lavishly at Trump-owned hotels, golf courses, and properties, paying above-market rates for events and accommodations. According to investigative reports, these payments have injected millions into Trump’s personal finances at a time when many other clients abandoned his brand.
Saudi-backed business has also transformed American sports. The LIV Golf tour, funded by the PIF, launched a direct challenge to the established PGA Tour by offering enormous paychecks to top golfers—and choosing Trump properties as major venues. Trump’s golf clubs in Florida and New Jersey hosted high-profile LIV events, generating both income and publicity for the former president.
The Saudi Strategy: Buying Influence and Legitimacy
The question arises: Why is Saudi Arabia investing so heavily in Trump and American institutions? The answer lies in a carefully orchestrated strategy of influence-building.
Sportswashing and Soft Power
Saudi Arabia is acutely aware of its global image problems. The Kingdom faces criticism over human rights abuses, the murder of dissidents, and its role in the Yemen war. By investing in American sports, tech, and culture, the Saudis aim to “sportswash” their reputation—recasting themselves as modern, dynamic, and friendly to the West.
Events at Trump golf properties aren’t just about profit; they are about visibility. Televised tournaments broadcast Saudi branding to millions and associate the Kingdom with high-profile celebrities and former heads of state.
Political Leverage
Investing in Trump is also a hedge for the future. By embedding themselves in his business and personal life, the Saudis ensure they have access and influence should Trump—or any Trump-backed Republican—return to the White House. Even in opposition, Trump’s voice remains highly influential in Republican foreign policy circles. The financial ties give the Saudis leverage and a channel for their interests at the highest levels of U.S. power.
The Kushner Connection: $2 Billion for Access
Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, a private equity firm he founded after leaving government, received a staggering $2 billion from the Saudi PIF—despite skepticism from the PIF’s own investment committee, which cited Kushner’s lack of experience and high fees.
This investment was not an isolated gesture of goodwill. During his White House tenure, Kushner defended MBS after the Khashoggi killing and reportedly gave Saudi leadership sensitive U.S. intelligence. Critics argue the deal smacks of payback for favorable treatment in office.
Such arrangements raise troubling questions about foreign governments buying favor with former officials, and about America’s ability to insulate policy decisions from personal enrichment.
The Trump Organization’s Saudi Windfall
Saudi spending at Trump Organization properties has been meticulously documented. After Trump’s election, foreign delegations flocked to Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. In 2022, a Saudi-backed golf tournament brought millions to his Bedminster, New Jersey club, while Saudi-owned companies booked entire floors in Trump’s New York properties.
Ethics watchdogs warn these payments create an appearance—or reality—of conflicts of interest, and may be an attempt to curry favor by enriching a former or future president.
Broader Saudi Investments: Tech, Sports, and Beyond
Trump is not the only beneficiary of Saudi largesse. The PIF is a major investor in Silicon Valley, buying stakes in companies like Uber, Lucid Motors, and others. It has poured billions into American venture capital funds and real estate, using cash to buy credibility and partnerships with powerful American players.
LIV Golf is the most visible “sportswashing” effort, but Saudi cash is also changing soccer, boxing, and Formula One. The message: Saudi Arabia is not just an oil state, but a global player shaping the future of entertainment, technology, and even politics.
What Saudi Arabia Wants: A New World Order
The Kingdom’s ambitions go far beyond image enhancement. MBS and the Saudi elite seek to create a multipolar world where Western criticism holds less sway, and where economic might translates into political deference. By aligning with influential Americans like Trump, they hope to secure arms deals, block criticism of their domestic policies, and shape Middle East policy to their liking.
With American democracy facing deep divisions and former officials cashing in on global connections, the risk of foreign influence over U.S. policy has never been more acute.
The Price of Access
Saudi Arabia’s partnership with Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, and their associates illustrates a new model of global influence—one in which money, access, and ambition intersect. As American political campaigns gear up for future elections, the Kingdom’s investments in politicians, properties, and sports will only become more consequential.
The key question for American democracy: Can the U.S. protect its institutions from the corrosive influence of foreign money, or is access to power simply for sale to the highest bidder?
As the story of Saudi Arabia and Trump continues to unfold, the world watches closely—knowing that the consequences reach far beyond a golf course or hotel suite, touching on the very integrity of the nation’s political life.
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