President Donald Trump fired sharp words at France Tuesday over a United Nations conference aimed at recognizing a Palestinian state. Co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, the gathering drew immediate backlash from Trump and top aides. They called it a dangerous move that hands rewards straight to Hamas militants.
“This nonsense from France and Europe plays right into Hamas hands,” Trump declared during a White House briefing. “Recognizing Palestine now? That’s like giving terrorists a prize for chaos.” Senior officials echoed the sentiment, warning Paris faces steep consequences for pushing ahead. “France will pay a heavy price,” one advisor hinted, without spelling out details.
Yet Saudi Arabia, the other key organizer, escaped any such heat from Washington. Critics quickly spotted the uneven treatment. Hosting the event should invite equal scrutiny, they argue, but Riyadh walks free. This glaring gap fuels talk of hypocrisy at the highest levels.
Middle East Eye spotlighted the dynamic in a fresh report. It paints a picture of Saudi leverage growing bolder over U.S. policy. “Attacking France while letting Saudi off the hook mirrors Riyadh’s sway today,” the outlet noted. Behind it all? Massive Saudi cash flows and tightening security bonds with America.
Kuwait University assistant professor Bader al-Saif weighed in for the piece. “France isn’t dumping billions into the U.S. economy like Saudi does,” he said. Gulf states, including Saudi, wield far more pull than many realize. Trump grasps that reality well.
Flash back to May, when Trump made a landmark trip to Riyadh. Saudi leaders pledged $600 billion in U.S. investments right there on the spot. On top of that, a whopping $142 billion defense pact sealed the deal—arms, training, the works. Who tosses aside a powerhouse ally loaded with such treasure?
Even Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stirred the pot recently. He labeled Israel’s Gaza operations a “genocide” amid ongoing violence. Trump stayed mum, no public slap or private nudge reported. Washington think tank Middle East Institute’s Gregory Gause called it par for the course. “Trump views France or Germany through a sour lens these days,” Gause observed. “Since grabbing power again, Europe’s been his punching bag.”
NATO weighs heavy in those gripes. Trump blasts allies for skimping on defense spending, claiming they offload burdens onto America. “They’re freeloading,” he often snaps. No wonder oil-rich Gulf players like Saudi snag extra focus now. They flex real muscle, outpacing Europe’s fading clout.
As the UN talks unfold, eyes stay glued on ripple effects. Will France back down under pressure? Does Saudi’s free pass signal deeper shifts in global alignments? For now, Trump’s barbs keep flying—one way, at least.
