Trump lands in Riyadh ahead of Middle East tour after ‘Flying Palace’ plane row and vow to meet Putin & Zelensky

DONALD Trump has landed in Riyadh to kickstart the first leg of his three-nation visit to the Middle East this week.

Don will first meet Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, end the war in Gaza, hold down oil prices and more.

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President Donald Trump is greeted by Air Force Col. Paul R. Pawluk as he arrives to board Air Force One on May 12[/caption]

Reuters

A screen displays a picture of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud shaking the hand of U.S. President Donald Trump[/caption]

The crown prince is also expected to fete Trump with a formal dinner and a gathering of members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates later on Tuesday.

It comes after Trump accepted a luxury plane dubbed the “flying palace” as a gift from Qatar’s royal family.

This elaborate gift, which was expected to be announced this week, could be the most expensive ever given by a foreign power to the United States.

The $400 million (£300 million) jumbo jet will be available to be used as a new “Air Force One” for much of Trump’s remaining term in office.

After this, it would be transferred Trump Presidential Library Foundation by 2029, according to US media reports.

The gift was expected to be announced this week during the president’s visit to Qatar, but Trump appeared to confirm it on social media.