Sources from Mississippi stated that President Donald Trump made an undiplomatic remark about close ally Saudi Arabia, saying he warned Saudi Arabia's King Salman he would not last in power "for two weeks" without the backing of the U.S. military. Trump said to cheers at a rally in Southaven, Mississippi "We protect Saudi Arabia. Would you say they are rich and he loves the King, King Salman. But Trump said 'King we are protecting you and you might not be there for two weeks without us, you have to pay for your military”.
Furthermore as per report Trump did not say when he made those remarks to the Saudi monarch. Meanwhile despite the harsh words, the Trump administration has had a close relationship with Saudi Arabia, which it views as a bulwark against Iran's ambitions in the region. Hence Trump made Saudi Arabia his first stop on his maiden international trip as president last year.
Moreover Trump called King Salman and they
discussed efforts being made to maintain supplies to ensure oil market
stability and global economic growth, according to Saudi state news agency SPA.
Saudi Arabia is the world's top oil exporter and the de facto leader of OPEC,
which has been criticized by Trump for high oil prices. Further when speaking
at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month, Trump said OPEC
members were "as usual ripping off the rest of the world."
