Cristiano Ronaldo Joins Saudi Prince at White House Dinner; Trump Shares Light-Hearted Remark About His Son
Trump says his son respects him more after meeting Ronaldo at a White House dinner.
US President Donald Trump turned a state dinner into a personal celebration on Tuesday evening, November 18, 2025, when he publicly credited soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo with earning him newfound respect from his teenage son Barron. Hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the East Room of the White House—the prince’s first official visit since 2018—Trump spotlighted Ronaldo, who was seated near the front alongside business titans including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla founder Elon Musk.
In light-hearted remarks, Trump told the 40-year-old Portuguese superstar, “Barron got to meet him. And I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just from the fact that I introduced you.” The comment drew laughter and applause from the assembled dignitaries and underscored the growing convergence of sport, politics, and Gulf investment that has defined Ronaldo’s later career.
Ronaldo’s presence at the high-profile dinner symbolised the deepening ties between Washington and Riyadh, particularly in sports diplomacy. Since joining Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr in December 2022 on a reported $200 million-a-year contract—the most lucrative in football history—Ronaldo has served as the global face of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious sporting push. Al-Nassr is majority-owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which the crown prince chairs.
The Portuguese forward, who extended his contract until 2027 in June, has repeatedly praised the kingdom’s vision, including its successful sole bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. His attendance alongside Prince Mohammed highlighted Saudi Arabia’s strategy of leveraging star power to rehabilitate its international image following the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an operation U.S. intelligence agencies concluded the crown prince likely approved.
The dinner marked a significant moment of diplomatic rehabilitation for Prince Mohammed, who had faced years of isolation from Western leaders after the Khashoggi killing. President Trump, who never imposed personal sanctions and continued arms sales during his first term, has warmly embraced the de facto Saudi ruler since returning to office. Tuesday’s event—filled with toasts to bilateral defence, energy, and investment deals—signalled a full reset in relations, with sport serving as a convenient bridge. Ronaldo’s invitation also aligned with Trump’s own enthusiasm for the 2026 World Cup, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico; a replica World Cup trophy gifted by FIFA president Gianni Infantino sits prominently in the Oval Office, and Trump is scheduled to attend the tournament draw on December 5.
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For Ronaldo, the evening offered a rare return to American soil—he last played in the U.S. in 2014—and came just days after Portugal qualified for the 2026 finals, where he aims to appear in a record sixth World Cup at age 41. The trip carried minor controversy: Ronaldo faces a likely one-match FIFA ban for a red card received during qualifiers last week, meaning he could miss Portugal’s opening game next June.
Yet the White House spotlight reinforced his enduring global appeal and his role as a soft-power asset for Saudi Arabia, as the kingdom prepares to stage both the 2034 World Cup and other mega-events. As guests departed the East Room, the image of the world’s most famous athlete flanked by the leaders of the United States and Saudi Arabia captured a new chapter in the increasingly intertwined worlds of football, finance, and geopolitics.
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