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Ronaldo joins Saudi crown prince at White House dinner hosted by Trump
Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo attended a black-tie dinner at the White House on Tuesday alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as U.S. President Donald Trump praised the kingdom's role as a "major non-NATO ally."
Trump's remarks and high-profile guests
Speaking before the event, Trump called it an "honor" to host Ronaldo, whose move to Saudi Arabia's Pro League has positioned him as a key figure in the kingdom's push to diversify beyond oil. The president also highlighted his son Barron's admiration for the athlete, joking that the meeting had earned him "a little more respect" from his child.
Among other attendees were tech billionaire Elon Musk-making his first White House appearance since resigning from a Trump administration advisory role in April-and Apple CEO Tim Cook. The dinner followed a private Oval Office meeting between Trump and bin Salman.
Saudi Arabia's 'sportswashing' strategy
Critics argue Saudi Arabia's high-profile investments in sports and entertainment serve to deflect scrutiny from its human rights record and oil industry's environmental impact-a practice dubbed "sportswashing." Ronaldo's reported $400 million contract with Al Nassr, chaired by bin Salman's sovereign wealth fund, exemplifies the kingdom's spending to boost its global image.
"Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in high-profile events and individuals to put the kingdom on the map," said Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House.
Ronaldo's Saudi ties and legal history
The 40-year-old footballer, now a billionaire according to Bloomberg, has publicly aligned with Saudi leadership, calling bin Salman "our boss" in a 2023 interview. Earlier this month, he promoted the kingdom's 2034 FIFA World Cup bid at a Riyadh tourism event.
Ronaldo's U.S. visit marks his first known trip since 2016. In 2018, he denied allegations of sexual assault from 2009, stating:
U.S. prosecutors later dropped the case, citing insufficient evidence."I firmly deny the accusations. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything I am and believe in."
Broader geopolitical context
The dinner underscores deepening U.S.-Saudi relations under Trump, who has repeatedly touted the kingdom's strategic importance. Bin Salman's Vision 2030 plan aims to reduce oil dependence by expanding sectors like sports and tourism-efforts Ronaldo's presence symbolizes.
