PREVIEW

Cristiano Ronaldo Attends White House Dinner With Saudi Crown Prince. Cristiano Ronaldo took part in a White House black-tie dinner alongside Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. President Trump called it an “honour” to host Ronaldo, praising his impact on the Saudi league and the country’s broader modernisation push. The crown prince is driving Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil, focusing on sports, tourism and global visibility. Critics argue that Saudi investments in sport amount to “sportswashing” to soften scrutiny of human rights issues and environmental concerns. During the dinner, President Trump highlighted close US-Saudi ties and joked that his son gained “more respect” after meeting Ronaldo. Elon Musk also attended, marking his first White House visit since leaving the administration’s DOGE office amid a highly public feud with the President. Ronaldo’s presence was notable as one of his first public US visits since 2016, following allegations of sexual assault he has firmly denied; prosecutors later declined charges. The football star has become the face of the Saudi Pro League and captain of Al Nassr since joining the kingdom’s flagship club in 2023.
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