Senator Bernie Sanders on Tuesday delivered a sharp rebuke to US President Donald Trump, accusing him of embracing authoritarian billionaires while maintaining a hostile stance toward ordinary Muslims. His comments came after Trump rolled out an extravagant welcome for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) at the White House.
During the visit, Trump offered the Saudi leader a high-profile security pact, including warplanes, and publicly defended MBS over his alleged role in the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The crown prince’s reception featured lavish displays: a military flyover of F-35 stealth jets, ceremonial cannon salutes, a parade of horseback soldiers, and an elaborate banquet on the South Lawn.
The red-carpet treatment immediately sparked political backlash.
Responding to online commentary about MBS’ return to Washington after years of controversy, Sanders wrote on X:
“Trump dislikes Muslims, except those who are billionaire autocrats who can make his family even richer.”
His remarks referred to the striking contrast between Trump’s long history of inflammatory statements about Muslims and his warmth toward wealthy Gulf leaders.
MBS Returns to US After Khashoggi Fallout
This trip marks Mohammed bin Salman’s first visit to the United States since 2018, when Khashoggi—an outspoken critic of Saudi policies and a Washington Post columnist—was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The killing prompted global outrage and severely strained US-Saudi relations.
Despite the unresolved controversy, Trump’s reception for MBS signalled a dramatic shift from international isolation to renewed diplomatic embrace.
When asked by a reporter about his family’s business ties to Saudi Arabia and MBS’ alleged role in the Khashoggi murder, Trump grew visibly irritated.
He called Khashoggi “one of the worst in the business”, reprimanded the reporter for “embarrassing our guest”, and added:
“My family has done very little with Saudi Arabia… He’s done a phenomenal job… He knew nothing about [Khashoggi].”
MBS, meanwhile, described the killing as “painful” and “a huge mistake,” insisting that Saudi Arabia has since strengthened its investigative mechanisms to prevent similar incidents.
Trump’s Past Stance on Muslims Under Scrutiny
Sanders’ criticism also brings renewed attention to Trump’s earlier positions on Muslims:
- In 2017, Trump enacted the controversial travel ban targeting seven Muslim-majority countries, triggering global protests and court challenges.
- In a 2016 CNN interview, he had said, “I think Islam hates us,” claiming there was “tremendous hatred” within Muslim communities.
- He suggested surveillance of mosques and a temporary halt on the entry of foreign Muslims “until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.”
- After the Brussels terror attacks, Trump said, “We’re having problems with the Muslims… You need surveillance… you have to deal with the mosques whether we like it or not.”
Against this backdrop, Sanders argued that Trump’s warm treatment of the Saudi crown prince reflects hypocrisy and political double standards.