By Katherine Tinsley
9:39am PDT, May 14, 2025
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"Saudi Arabia brought in a mobile McDonald's for President Trump on his visit," conservative social media personality Benny Johnson posted a video of the contraption.
Of course, people were astounded by the truck.
"How's this real life?" one user asked, while another thought bringing the president's favorite fast food chain to Saudi Arabia was "incredible."
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Aside from enjoying McDonald's, Donald Trump spoke about seeing economic growth within the region.
"Exactly 8 years ago this month, I stood in this very room and looked forward to a future in which the nations of this region would drive the forces of terrorism and extremism… right out of existence, and take your place among the proudest, most prosperous, most successful nations anywhere in the world — as leaders of a modern and rising Middle East," Trump told a crowd at the Saudi-U.S. Investment forum on Tuesday, May 13.
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While Donald Trump often thanks himself for change, he credited Middle Eastern figures for Riyadh's global significance.
"This great transformation has not come from Western interventionists … giving you lectures on how to live or how to govern your own affairs," the real estate developer stated.
"No, the gleaming marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by the so-called 'nation-builders,' 'neo-cons,' or 'liberal non-profits,' like those who spent trillions failing to develop Kabul and Baghdad, so many other cities," he continued. "Instead, the birth of a modern Middle East has been brought about by the people of the region themselves … developing your own sovereign countries, pursuing your own unique visions, and charting your own destinies."
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Donald Trump hinted at strengthening the U.S.'s diplomatic ties to Saudi Arabia and within the Middle East.
"As I have shown repeatedly, I am willing to end past conflicts and forge new partnerships for a better and more stable world, even if our differences may be very profound," Trump said in his speech.
"My preference will always be for peace and partnership, whenever those outcomes can be achieved," he stressed. "Always."
