Trump greets Saudi’s MBS with lavish ceremony, military flyover

Cristiano Ronaldo is scheduled to visit the White House on the same day as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Portuguese football star is reportedly being compensated significantly as part of Saudi Arabia's modernization efforts. This visit highlights the intersection of sports and diplomacy, particularly in the context of Saudi Arabia's ongoing initiatives to enhance its global image and attract international investment.

Donald Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a White House meeting, downplaying the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. This meeting coincided with the announcement of a significant arms deal, including the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. Trump's family has vested interests in Saudi projects, including the development of Trump Plaza in Jeddah, further complicating the political landscape surrounding U.S.-Saudi relations.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated that Saudi Arabia will not normalize relations with Israel without a clear path to Palestinian statehood. He expressed interest in joining the Abraham Accords initiated by former President Trump, which aimed to establish diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations. The Crown Prince emphasized the importance of addressing Palestinian rights as a prerequisite for any normalization efforts.

During a White House visit, President Donald Trump downplayed the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, stating that the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was unaware of the incident. Trump characterized Khashoggi as 'extremely controversial' and unpopular. This visit marks the first time the Crown Prince has been welcomed to the White House since the murder, which has drawn international condemnation and strained U.S.-Saudi relations.

The US House of Representatives passed a bill with near-unanimous support to mandate the release of documents related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. This decision follows a significant shift from former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies, who had previously opposed the release. The bill aims to shed light on Epstein's activities and the investigations surrounding him, responding to public demand for transparency.

The US House voted 427-1 to release government files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This decision follows President Donald Trump's reversal of his previous opposition, highlighting divisions within the GOP as lawmakers aim to address the concerns of over 1,000 alleged victims. The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

Eliyahu ‘Eli’ Weinstein, a New Jersey man previously pardoned by Donald Trump in 2021, has been sentenced to 37 years in federal prison for defrauding investors out of $35 million. The ruling was made by US District Judge Michael Shipp in Trenton, who also ordered Weinstein to pay $44,294,803 in restitution immediately. Weinstein, 51, from Lakewood, was known as Mike Konig and had his earlier sentence commuted by Trump, but now faces significant legal consequences for his fraudulent activities.

The joint statement from Canada, the U.S., and Finland reaffirms the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, known as the ICE Pact, which was originally signed under President Joe Biden. U.S. President Donald Trump continues to support this initiative despite ongoing trade discussions remaining stalled. The ICE Pact aims to enhance cooperation in Arctic navigation and icebreaker capabilities among the three nations.