US President Donald Trump hosted a lavish White House dinner on Tuesday for visiting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with Portuguese soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and billionaire Elon Musk among the high profile guests.
Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi club Al Nassr, was seated near the head of the table shortly before Trump and the Saudi crown prince arrived for the event.
Trump revealed during his pre dinner remarks that his 19 year old son Barron had been thrilled to meet the legendary player. He told the audience that “my son is a big fan of Ronaldo,” adding that the encounter had earned him extra respect from his soccer loving son. Trump joked that Barron now “respects his father a little bit more” thanks to the introduction.
Also present at the black tie dinner was FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has made several recent appearances at the White House ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which the United States will co host. Ronaldo, whose contract with Al Nassr ends this summer, has said next year’s World Cup for which Portugal secured their qualification on Sunday will “definitely” be his last.
Musk’s appearance at the event signaled a renewed relationship with Trump after their public fallout earlier in the year. The Space X and Tesla chief had previously served five months as head of the Department of Government Efficiency and joined Trump on a trip to Saudi Arabia in May. Their relationship deteriorated in July after Musk criticized Trump’s major spending bill and later claimed that the president was referenced in investigatory files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump reacted at the time by threatening Musk with deportation, but the two appeared cordial at the dinner. Musk, wearing a tuxedo, was seen speaking with other guests at a separate candlelit table. His presence suggested that tensions between the president and the world’s richest man had eased.
During the dinner, Trump also praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a “man of leadership.” He reiterated his support for the Saudi royal, whom he had previously defended in the aftermath of the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
