Tense Trump–MBS Meeting Over Saudi-Israel Normalization, Axios Reports

WASHINGTON — A closed-door meeting between President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last week turned tense as the two leaders clashed over the prospect of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, according to U.S. officials who spoke to Axios.

Trump, hoping for a diplomatic breakthrough now that the Gaza war has ended, pressed MBS during their Nov. 18 meeting to move forward with normalization with Israel — a priority the White House had conveyed to the crown prince before the meeting, Axios reported.

According to the officials, the discussion shifted when MBS pushed back, telling Trump that although he supports eventual normalization, Saudi public opinion is sharply opposed in the aftermath of the Gaza conflict. He said the kingdom is not positioned to take such a step now, three sources told Axios.

The exchange was described as “disappointing and irritating” for Trump, one source said, adding that while the tone was civil, the conversation was difficult. “MBS is a strong man. He stood his ground,” the source told Axios.

MBS also insisted that any peace deal with Israel would require “an irreversible, credible and time-bound path” toward a Palestinian state — a position he later stated publicly. Israel’s government continues to reject any such process.

A U.S. official noted that the crown prince did not close the door entirely. “MBS never said no to normalization. The door is open for doing it later. But the two-state solution is an issue,” the official told Axios.

The White House said Trump remains committed to expanding the Abraham Accords. “Now that Iran’s nuclear program has been totally obliterated and the war in Gaza has ended, it is very important to President Trump that all Middle Eastern countries join the Abraham Accords,” a White House official said.

During their public remarks last week, Trump told MBS he intends to provide Saudi Arabia with the same advanced model of the F-35 fighter jet that Israel uses. But the following day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reassured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Saudi Arabia would receive a downgraded version to preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge, U.S. and Israeli officials told Axios.

The Saudi Embassy did not comment.

Trump did not raise the terrorism lawsuit filed by families of 9/11 victims — a case recently allowed to move forward by a federal judge, who cited extensive evidence of Saudi complicity, Axios reported.