I24News reporter Mike Wagenheim confirmed the witness on social media. “Yes, this is a mobile McDonald’s in Riyadh,” he posted on X.
This unusual setting, which is strategically parked near the venue where global media is hosting, adds a surreal twist to a visit, originally dominated by a billion-dollar deal and state-level diplomacy.
The presidential feast
It’s no coincidence that McDonald’s trucks are. Trump’s love for fast food, especially McDonald’s, is well known. During his first semester, he enjoyed a famous fast food at the White House banquet and served in October 2024 at the McDonald’s Export Store in Pennsylvania during his campaign. The association is still strong despite the restaurant chain saying it is not involved in the look.
In Riyadh, Saudi authorities also appear to have tailored the smallest details of Trump’s visit to his preferences. A user on X summarized the public response: “Please tell me that the Saudis will provide him with some McDonald’s. The ultimate sign of hospitality.”
Flag of streets and fast food diplomacy
Trump arrived on May 13 and received full ceremony honors. The flags of the United States and Saudi Arabia line up on the road. American-made police cars were clearly stationed in major locations. The moment Trump landed, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greeted him personally, an honor of tarmac that rarely extends to visiting leaders.
In the airport’s large ritual hall, the president and his assistants were welcomed by traditional Arabic coffees served by waiters wearing ritual belts.
“Our doors and hearts are open to you,” Prince Turki al-Faisal, former Saudi intelligence chief and British and our ambassador, told Arab News.
The numbers behind the handshake
A warm welcome is more than just symbolic. Riyadh and Washington signed a huge $142 billion defense sales agreement, which is considered the largest defense sales agreement in history. The deals include cutting-edge equipment and services from U.S. defense companies and become part of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to invest $600 billion in the U.S. economy.
The agreement did not stop defense. Both countries have signed memorandums covering joint training of Saudi forces, cooperation in infectious disease research, and cooperation between customs and law enforcement agencies, including a partnership between the Saudi Ministry of Interior and the FBI.
The US-made General Electric Turbine and Boeing 737-8 aircraft worth $4.8 billion are also part of the deal.
“I really believe we like each other very much”: Trump
At a bilateral meeting, President Trump and the Crown Prince made brief comments to the media. “I really believe we like each other very much,” Trump said.
Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih echoed the sentiment at the Saudi-US Investment Forum, saying: “Our bilateral relations are one of the most important geostrategic bonds in the world, and its core economic cooperation and business partnerships are the forces of peace and global prosperity.”
Preview of Trump’s foreign policy style
Commenting on the visit, Mona Yacoubian, director of the Middle East Programs at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Newsweek, “The foreshadowing of Trump’s foreign policy over the next four years is transactions, not transformative, personality-driven, and crowned by tying economic transactions.”
Trump’s delegation includes senior officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Tesla CEO and Trump adviser Elon Musk also attended the meeting and is expected to speak at the investment forum.
Next stop: Qatar and the UAE
Trump’s Middle East Tour will continue to visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates later this week. The two countries are expected to sign major trade and investment agreements, and Trump’s target deals could reach a cumulative value of more than $1 trillion.
As for the mobile McDonald’s in Riyadh, it’s unclear whether the president has actually ordered the Big Mac. But, in terms of diplomatic gestures, the Saudis make sure that even Trump’s taste is at home.
