Cristiano Ronaldo and tech billionaire Elon Musk were among the high-profile guests at a grand White House dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump in honour of visiting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday.
The event marked the crown prince’s first visit to the United States since 2018. His arrival was greeted with full ceremonial fanfare, including a jet flyover, before he met with President Trump at the White House.
Ronaldo, who currently plays for Saudi club Al Nassr, was seated near the head of the table just moments before the president and the crown prince walked in. The 40-year-old superstar, whose contract with Al Nassr expires this summer, drew special attention from Trump during his remarks.
“You know, my son is a big fan of Ronaldo,” Trump told the audience, adding that his 19-year-old son, Barron, had the chance to meet the football legend earlier. “I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just the fact that I introduced you.”
The dinner also featured FIFA President Gianni Infantino, continuing his frequent engagements at the White House ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which the United States will co-host. Ronaldo confirmed that the tournament will “definitely” be his last.
Another notable attendee was Elon Musk, signaling a renewed relationship with Trump after their public fallout earlier in the year. Musk had previously served briefly as head of the Department of Government Efficiency and joined Trump on a trip to Saudi Arabia in May. Their relationship soured after Musk criticized one of Trump’s major spending bills and made comments linking the president to files involving the late Jeffrey Epstein. Trump responded at the time by threatening him with deportation.
During the dinner, Trump praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a “man of leadership,” while also reiterating his previous defense of the Saudi leader regarding the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
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