President Donald Trump described Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a "good friend" following a phone call between the two leaders. The conversation reportedly focused on the Houthi takeover of significant territory in Yemen and its implications for global oil supply routes.
Trump's remarks came on Saturday, alongside Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin during a tour of the island nation. When questioned by reporters, Trump stated, "I had a call with MBS. He's a good friend of mine, and I can just say everything is gonna work out fine and dandy. It's gonna be very good."
The call occurred shortly after 9/11 victims' families publicly renewed their demands for accountability from Saudi Arabia, citing alleged ties between the kingdom and some of the hijackers in the 2001 terrorist attacks. During a nationally televised service at the 9/11 memorial in Manhattan, Terry Strada, the widow of 9/11 victim Tom Strada, accused the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of supporting terrorists and fomenting "anti-American terrorism."
"For 25 years, administration after administration, including leaders in front of us here today, chose to protect the Saudis instead of standing with the 9/11 families," Strada said. Families are pressing the Trump administration to declassify records, including phone logs, that they believe link a Saudi national to Saudi intelligence. Their lawsuit against the kingdom is moving toward a trial.
The White House has stated that Trump's team is working to identify records responsive to the families' request. Saudi Arabia has consistently denied any role in the 9/11 attacks and has contested the families' lawsuit in federal court for years.
MBS had reportedly reached out to Trump twice on Thursday, seeking U.S. military strikes against the Houthis. Trump declined this request. The Houthi offensive has bolstered their control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical waterway for global oil transport.
Central Command chief Admiral Brett Cooper reportedly traveled to Saudi Arabia this week for emergency meetings concerning the situation. Trump's engagement with Saudi leadership occurs amid ongoing criticism regarding U.S.-Saudi ties, which have been notably strong during Trump's tenure. He has previously highlighted his relationship with MBS, and during his presidency, the two nations agreed to deals involving military technology, rare earths, and nuclear energy.
This situation marks a potential shift from July, when Saudi officials indicated they could manage the Houthi threat independently. The recent territorial gains by the Houthis have raised concerns about potential emboldenment to target oil vessels in the region.