Donald and Melania Trump arrive in Saudi Arabia as US President flees 'witch hunt'

AFPUS President Donald Trump (L) lands in Saudi Arabia

The eight-day tour, including four countries in the Middle East and Europe, comes hours after Donald Trump said he was the victim of the “greatest political witch-hunt in US history”.

He was photographed stepping off a plane with wife Melania Trump, to then walk on red carpet escorted by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.

First Lady Melania was then seen walking steps behind her husband in a different group.They have travelled to the Royal Court in Riyadh for a lavish official welcoming ceremony followed by several meetings with leaders.

Mr Trump may be hoping it takes the heat off him back home and gives him the opportunity to put into practice his “America First” foreign policy.

Before going, he wrote on Twitter: “Getting ready for my big foreign trip. Will be strongly protecting American interests – that’s what I like to do!”

ReutersDonald Trump (L) meets with Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

The White House has viewed the tour as an opportunity to visit places which are key to three of the world’s major religions while also providing opportunities to meet with Arab, Israeli and European heads of state.

However Mr Trump may find that he meets with opposition to Mr Trump’s “America First” policies and trying to advance American interests.

The US leader and his wife are due to attend a royal banquet later today and Mr Trump is expected to hold private talks with the Saudi king Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.


The pair are also expected to sign a number US-Saudi trade deals including an arms deal worth £76.7 billion ($100bn).

The national oil giant Saudi Aramco is also due to sign a variety of deals with US companies with a total of £38.4bn ($50bn) later today as the company attempts to diversify the country’s economy and become less reliant on oil exports, according to Armco’s Chief Executive Amin Nasser.

Mr Trump is also expected to deliver a speech in the capital Riyadh tomorrow aimed at trying to rally Muslims in the ongoing battle fighting the terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS).

He will also attend a summit with Gulf leaders as part of the six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council.