President Donald J. Trump is visiting Saudi Arabia in the initial stop of his first overseas tour that includes Israel, the Vatican, the 28th NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, and the 43rd G7 summit in Taormina, Italy.
President Trump met with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman at Murabba Palace in Riyadh, which is the nation’s capital and main financial hub.
Great to be in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Looking forward to the afternoon and evening ahead. #POTUSAbroad pic.twitter.com/JJOra0KfyR
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2017
Before long, the POTUS was dancing to the traditional “Ardha” sword dance in the King Abdulaziz Historical Center.
VIDEO: #Trump takes part in traditional ardha dance in Saudi Arabia.
Read the full story here: https://t.co/hQGZDCJ8L0 pic.twitter.com/RYHcOX8f0a— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) May 20, 2017
VIDEO: King Salman takes part in traditional ardha dance.
Read the full story here: https://t.co/hQGZDCJ8L0 pic.twitter.com/73hxtWC7bf— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) May 20, 2017
Trump dancing the "Ardha," traditional dance of peace after war. Saudis chanting: "We thank god things came that we had wished for." https://t.co/aMCqyacfVo
— Devin Dwyer (@devindwyer) May 20, 2017
Even Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross busted some moves during the sword dance.
Tillerson dances at dinner for POTUS and King Salman in Saudi Arabia pic.twitter.com/vfhqbvOAGb
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 20, 2017
During a joint press conference with Tillerson, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the President’s visit marked “the beginning of a turning point” in U.S.-Islamic relations.
“Today was a truly historic day in the relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States and we believe at the beginning of a turning point in the relationship between the United States and the Arab and Islamic world,” the Saudi monarchy’s top diplomat said on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, the United States and Saudi Arabia made several trade agreements as well as a $110 billion arms package aimed at bolstering the Middle Eastern country’s security.
Saudi’s King Salman awarded President Trump with the Collar of Abdulaziz al Saud, the kingdom’s highest civilian honor.
VIDEO: What’s the significance behind #SaudiArabia’s Order of King Abdulaziz medal given to #Trump? https://t.co/lDDwBe6HGE #RiyadhSummit pic.twitter.com/GgYF48sMuk
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) May 20, 2017
“That was a tremendous day,” President Trump said. “Tremendous investments in the United States. Hundreds of billions of dollars of investments into the United States and jobs, jobs, jobs.”
[TheHill]