WASHINGTON, D.C. – Former U.S. President Donald Trump hosted a glittering state dinner in honour of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, drawing a high-powered guest list that included global football sensation Cristiano Ronaldo and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, turning the event into one of the most talked-about political and social gatherings of the season.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who now plays for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, was seated close to Trump, underscoring his prominence at the dinner. Trump even remarked humorously that his teenage son Barron “likes him a little more now” after meeting the football legend, a moment that captured the playful yet high-stakes tone of the evening. Ronaldo’s attendance also reflected Saudi Arabia’s growing investment in global sports as part of its wider cultural influence strategy, which is increasingly becoming a central pillar of the Kingdom’s international image.
Elon Musk’s presence, meanwhile, signalled a notable thaw in his previously strained relationship with Trump. The SpaceX and Tesla chief, sharply dressed in a tuxedo, was seen interacting with dignitaries and guests throughout the evening, sparking widespread commentary about the intersection of business, political ambition and future strategic alignments. Musk’s re-engagement with Trump arrives at a time when the Saudi leadership continues to court the global tech sector while deepening its political footprint abroad.
During the event, Trump praised the Saudi Crown Prince as a leader with vision and resolve, while sidestepping longstanding controversies surrounding the Kingdom, including the fallout from the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The dinner served not only as a diplomatic gesture but also as a public display of powerful relationships spanning sports, technology, business and geopolitics.
The gathering highlighted the Kingdom’s evolving global outreach, showcasing the merging of soft power, financial capital, and high-level diplomacy. With Ronaldo representing Saudi Arabia’s sporting ambitions and Musk its appeal to the world’s technology elite, the evening symbolised Riyadh’s push to reshape its global narrative through strategic influence and high-visibility partnerships.
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