‘Making Money’ host Charles Payne discusses President Donald Trump’s penchant for brokering peace deals.
In a move that resonated across industries, President Donald Trump dined with a stellar array of business executives at the Saudi royal court in Riyadh on Tuesday. This exclusive gathering, hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was not just a meal; it was a significant convergence of power and influence.
This lunch was a cornerstone event in Trump’s high-stakes tour of the Persian Gulf region, focused on establishing lucrative business deals and fostering strategic partnerships with key players in three oil-rich nations—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
American CEOs Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Larry Fink Join Trump at Saudi Royal Court
The Executive Ensemble: Who Was Present?
Attendees included a diverse list of executives, some previously critical of Trump but ready to engage in dialogue:
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, center, and ImmunityBio Executive Chairman Patrick Soon-Shiong, right, wait to meet the Saudi Crown Prince at the Royal Court in Riyadh May 13, 2025. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Sam Altman, once a vocal critic of Trump and a contributor to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, found himself in a new light. Recently, he expressed a shift in perspective, acknowledging Trump could “be incredible for the country in many ways” while also noting their points of disagreement.
Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang
Wang described his experience at the lunch as a “good discussion on AI leadership” with both President Trump and his colleagues from the AI industry, sharing an enlightening moment through a social media post.
Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang testifies during a House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies and Innovation hearing about artificial intelligence on Capitol Hill July 18, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Tesla CEO Elon Musk
Elon Musk, a senior advisor to the president, left, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, center, are directed to greet the Saudi Crown Prince at the Royal Court in Riyadh May 13, 2025. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Musk, a vocal supporter of Trump throughout the 2024 election cycle, now serves as the head of the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, further solidifying his influence in this high-profile gathering.
Google CIO Ruth Porat
Ruth Porat participates in the session, “Curiosity, Wonder, and Awe,” onstage during the Clinton Global Initiative Meeting at New York Hilton Midtown Sept. 19, 2023, in New York City. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy
Jassy was not only an attendee but also took the stage as a speaker at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum. His presence underscored the significant ties between tech giants and the Middle East.
Andy Jassy, Amazon CEO, during the GeekWire Summit in Seattle Oct. 5, 2023. (David Ryder/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Palantir CEO Alex Karp
Karp, a visionary leader, co-founded Palantir in the early 2000s and has since built it into a major player in the software industry. His insights on data and AI have become increasingly relevant in today’s business landscape.
Alex Karp and Andrew Ross Sorkin speak during the AI Expo For National Competitiveness at Walter E. Washington Convention Center May 7, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Palantir / Getty Images)
Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick
Kalanick, who played a pivotal role in shaping the ride-sharing industry, brings a unique and visionary perspective to discussions on business innovation.
Travis Kalanick attends the 2019 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art May 6, 2019, in New York City. (Theo Wargo/WireImage)
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney
Sweeney, a passionate advocate, formerly criticized Big Tech leaders for “pretending to be Republicans” during discussions about market competition. His insights shed light on the ongoing challenges in tech regulation.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney arrives at United States District Court May 20, 2023, in Oakland, Calif. (Philip Pacheco/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Alcoa CEO William Oplinger
The Hill reported that Oplinger, a vocal critic of Trump’s tariffs, which he claimed would endanger thousands of jobs in the aluminum industry, was also present at the lunch.
President Donald J. Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court May 13, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Images / Getty Images)
The lunch, attended by over 30 leaders from a broad spectrum of industries, represented a critical moment for business collaboration in the current geopolitical landscape.
Trump Condemns ‘Interventionalists,’ Pitches ‘More Hopeful Future’ in Middle East Speech
Notably, Democratic supporter and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman received an invitation to this high-profile lunch but was reported to be “not in Riyadh,” according to a post from his chief of staff.
Reflecting on the day, Trump characterized it as a “great day” on TruthSocial, hinting at the substantial impacts these discussions will hold for future business ventures.
Greg Norman contributed to this report.
