US-Saudi Ties Face Crucial Test Amid Trump-MBS Showdown

US President Donald Trump met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office on November 18, 2025, in a session that was marked by a combative exchange with reporters. The meeting, which was seen as a test of the US-Saudi relationship, came as the two leaders sought to address a range of issues, including the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, which has been a major challenge to their relationship. According to reports, Trump dismissed a question about Khashoggi's murder, stating that it was "a terrible thing" but also saying that the US and Saudi Arabia had "a very good relationship" and that he was "not going to get into it." The crown prince, who has been implicated in Khashoggi's murder by US intelligence reports, appeared to be unfazed by the question, and the two leaders instead focused on discussing issues such as oil production and trade. The US-Saudi relationship has been a complex and often contentious one, with the two countries having a long history of cooperation on issues such as oil and security, but also having significant differences on issues such as human rights and democracy. The murder of Khashoggi, a vocal critic of the Saudi government, was widely condemned by the international community and has put a significant strain on the US-Saudi relationship. Joshua Keating, a senior correspondent at Vox, noted that the meeting between Trump and the crown prince was "a reminder that the US-Saudi relationship is too big to fail, at least for now." Keating added that the relationship is "a complex web of interests and alliances that is difficult to untangle, and that the US and Saudi Arabia have a long history of cooperation on issues such as oil and security." The US-Saudi relationship has been a key aspect of US foreign policy in the Middle East for decades, with the two countries having a long history of cooperation on issues such as oil production and security. However, the relationship has also been marked by significant tensions and conflicts, including the 1990 invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, which was seen as a major challenge to US-Saudi relations. In recent years, the US-Saudi relationship has been further complicated by the rise of Iran and the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which has seen the Saudi-led coalition launch a series of airstrikes against Houthi rebels. The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian suffering and has put a significant strain on the US-Saudi relationship. The meeting between Trump and the crown prince on November 18, 2025, was seen as a test of the US-Saudi relationship, and the outcome of the meeting will likely have significant implications for the future of the relationship. As Keating noted, the US-Saudi relationship is "too big to fail, at least for now," but the relationship is also facing significant challenges and tensions that will need to be addressed in the coming months and years. In the aftermath of the meeting, officials from both countries were tight-lipped about the details of the discussion, but it is clear that the US-Saudi relationship remains a complex and contentious one. As the two countries continue to navigate their relationship, it remains to be seen how they will address the significant challenges and tensions that have arisen in recent years.