All eyes were on Trump this week as he started his second foreign policy tour in Saudi Arabia. But under the glitzy headlines and smiling photos, something bigger was cooking: a tech bonanza. From Elon Musk to Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, each walked away with billion-dollar deals eager to turn Saudi gold into AI gold.
While questions swirl about what the U.S. may give up in exchange, the Kingdom is cashing in on the AI race. Critics worry that we’re not just selling silicon but maybe also our strategic advantage as Trump hands out “checks” and chips. Interestingly, the usual suspects—Zuckerberg, Bezos, and Cook—skipped the gathering. They might know something we don’t, or tech diplomacy isn’t their cup of Saudi tea.
In Context: Trump’s Middle East trip won’t include Israel, and he defends Qatar’s plane gift against Republican criticism.
