**American Business Leaders Join President Trump in Saudi Arabia on Landmark Middle East Tour**

In a significant gathering of political and corporate power, President Donald Trump brought over 30 top executives from leading American companies to a lunch held in Saudi Arabia during his Middle East tour. Among the distinguished guests were executives from prominent organizations such as IBM, Amazon, and Palantir. The event underscores the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s key investors, in fostering relationships with the U.S. business community.

The White House provided a list of attendees that highlighted the presence of leaders from various sectors including banking, artificial intelligence, defense, and retail. This gathering not only offered a prime networking opportunity for these executives but also symbolized their support for American industry and the Trump administration. The stakes were higher this year due to the challenges and uncertainties posed by Trump's tariff and trade policies, prompting many corporate leaders to seize the chance to align their interests with the administration.

The luncheon, hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Saudi royal court in Riyadh, is a part of Trump's packed schedule in the region. The event follows a significant announcement by Trump, lauding a $600 billion investment secured from Saudi Arabia. Notably, many of the attending companies had previously contributed to Trump's inauguration fund, which amassed a record-breaking $239 million.

Key agreements emerged from the event, with executives announcing various deals. Elon Musk revealed that Saudi Arabia has approved the use of SpaceX's Starlink satellites for aviation and maritime applications. Palantir's stock saw a significant rise, partly attributed to the federal department overhauls under Trump's administration that created new opportunities for their AI tools.

Boeing secured its largest-ever aircraft deal with Qatar Airways, signaling a strong recovery after a challenging year. Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, announced the sale of over 18,000 AI chips to the Saudi company Humain, emphasizing the strategic vision of Saudi Arabia in embracing transformative technology.

Other notable attendees included representatives from Google, IBM, Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Uber, each having contributed significant amounts to Trump's inaugural fund. The presence of these industry titans and the deals being forged illustrate the dynamic interplay between political and corporate interests in shaping global economic landscapes.