President Donald Trump: A Historic Victory. A Dawn of Promising Saudi-American Relations

Dr. Ibrahim Al-Mutrif
The predictions of many election monitoring institutions and American media came true with the election of Donald Trump over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the heated race for the White House. Trump secured 276 electoral votes, surpassing the 270 needed for victory. The Republican candidate announced his win to his supporters from Palm Beach, Florida, marking his return to the White House, the same entry point into politics he used in 2015.
As soon as the president-elect declared his victory, congratulations poured in from leaders around the globe, wishing him success in his new term and efforts to establish peace in a world plagued by wars.
Democratic candidate Kamala Harris suffered a resounding defeat. Many commentators and social media posts attributed her loss to her inability to distance her campaign from the legacies of former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. This association led many to believe that her victory would mirror their policies, especially considering that Biden’s term had not satisfied a significant portion of the American public.
On the other hand, the president-elect not only won the White House but also secured all seven swing states, achieving a total of 312 electoral votes compared to Harris’s 226. This victory is significant for Trump as it represents a challenging equation, winning both the popular and electoral votes simultaneously. It is the first time since 2004 that the Republican Party has won both, having previously secured the electoral vote in 2000 and 2016 without the popular vote.
With this victory, the president-elect has moved away from the Democratic policies that led to numerous conflicts and wars worldwide, including the Middle East, the Gulf region, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the devastating wars in Gaza and Lebanon. Additionally, the heightened tensions that nearly sparked
an Iranian-Israeli war and ongoing threats from Houthi militias to maritime navigation in the Red Sea are also significant.
Media outlets and social media platforms worldwide have extensively documented and commented on the president-elect’s overwhelming victory, with European newspapers describing it as a “shocking result.” They noted that the accusations, condemnations, and assassination attempts against Trump did not deter him, allowing him to return to the presidency with an unexpected and substantial win, shocking the Democratic Party.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated President Trump on his victory, sending letters of congratulations to the president-elect, who established friendly relations with the Kingdom during his first term. King Salman highlighted the longstanding historical ties between the two countries and peoples, which both sides strive to strengthen and develop across various fields.
Additionally, the Saudi Press Agency reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called President Trump on the 6th of November, to congratulate him on his electoral win. The Crown Prince expressed the Kingdom’s eagerness to enhance the historical and strategic relations that bind the two nations, wishing prosperity for the American people under Trump’s leadership. In turn, the president-elect thanked the Crown Prince for his congratulations and expressed his feelings toward the American people.
In October 2024, the former Republican candidate Donald Trump stated, “Peace will return to the Middle East if I become president again, and I will work with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to achieve that.” He added that the Crown Prince has a vision and has implemented many initiatives that no one else would have considered, earning respect worldwide.
Trump described the current Saudi-American relations as “good,” referring to them as “great” during his presidency and emphasized his respect for King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
It’s important to note that President Donald Trump is not new to Saudi-American relations; he led his country’s ties with the Kingdom for four years, characterized by hard work and fruitful cooperation in diplomatic, economic, and military spheres, which are expected to advance significantly in the days to
come.
In this context, the Saudi relationship with the United States is viewed as one of its most crucial foreign relations, dating back to the Kingdom’s oil exploration era that led to the discovery of the largest oil reserves in the modern world, which in turn facilitated unprecedented international development and remarkable economic and social transformation in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-American relationship is a cornerstone of both countries’ foreign policies, reflecting that the Kingdom has had exceptional ties with the United States for over eighty years, while the U.S. remains the world’s largest political, economic, military, and technological power, making the maintenance of this
relationship vital, requiring development across all levels.
The reality of the Saudi-American political relations demonstrates that, despite experiencing tensions and crises at different times, the partnership has remained a clearly defined strategic alliance. Many regional and international analysts and observers believe that these crises have fortified the relationship, as leaders from both countries recognize the fact that mutual interests can only be achieved through converging, if not identical, visions.
From this perspective, the writer believes it is fair to characterize the cooperation between the Kingdom and the United States as a cornerstone of its foreign policy, as their friendship has grown stronger and more mature over the years. Their visions and objectives align regarding many challenges facing the international community, as both strive to create solutions to problems and achieve peace and stability based on shared values.
It is evident to observers that developments and changes in the region and globally have not altered the solid nature of relations between the two countries. This is particularly apparent through the visits of American officials, with Riyadh serving as a key stop. This indicates a shared commitment to maintaining and advancing relations based on mutual respect and common interests.
The leadership in both countries has worked to prevent any issue from obstructing cooperation, based on the conviction that dialogue and collaboration are the best means to overcome and resolve any emerging
disputes. The writer has no doubt that this approach will return to its natural course with the return of President Trump to the White House very soon.
The Saudi citizen is well aware of his leadership’s commitment to strengthening relations with the United States, the strategic partner and ally tied to a long history of friendship dating back to the time of the founder, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman, may Allah have mercy on him.
King Salman’s visit to the United States marked a significant moment in strengthening the historical ties between the two countries, coming at a time of considerable political, economic, geopolitical importance. Despite the challenging circumstances, King Salman’s dedication enhanced the historical relationship, which is among the most important foreign relations for both Saudi Arabia and the United States.
It can be said that Saudi-American relations are multifaceted, encompassing diverse political, economic, security, and strategic aspects. These relations continue to expand day by day, and are expected to cover various levels and fields with the return of President Trump to power.
The writer concludes by affirming that the Saudi-American relations have developed remarkably over the years, experiencing continuous evolution and navigating significant milestones that have strengthened the relationship, ultimately becoming a central aspect of both countries’ foreign policies and a top priority.