First Lady Melania Trump turned heads at the White House on November 18, 2025, wearing a striking emerald green gown that matched the colors of the Saudi Arabian flag. The fashion choice came during a formal dinner to welcome Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on his first visit to the United States in seven years.
Trump wore a strapless dress by Lebanese designer Elie Saab, featuring a shimmering metallic finish and heavy pleating throughout. Her stylist, Hervé Pierre, confirmed the gown had been purchased off the rack, and a press manager for Saab stated the designer had not been informed in advance that Trump would wear it to the event. The dress is part of Saab’s pre-autumn 2025 collection and retails for $3,350 at stores including Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. When reporters asked Pierre if there was any message behind the dress, he declined to comment. The choice of designer carried added significance, as Saab had held one of the largest fashion shows in the Middle East in Riyadh the previous year.
The first lady paired the floor-length gown with black Manolo Blahnik pumps, white diamond earrings, and a ring. She kept her look understated by leaving her neck bare, which emphasized the dress’s strapless design and allowed the bold color to command attention.
The dinner marked the first formal event of its kind hosted by President Donald Trump during his second term. The East Room gathering included 120 invited guests, with 30 people from the Saudi delegation attending the black-tie affair. The elaborate welcome ceremony featured a military flyover, cannons firing, and American and Saudi flags decorating the White House buildings.
Among the high-profile guests were Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Fox News anchors Maria Bartiromo and Bret Baier, golfer Bryson DeChambeau, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi club Al Nassr, was also seated near the front of the room. The 40-year-old footballer joined Al Nassr in late 2022 on a contract reportedly worth $200 million per year and extended his deal for another two years in June.
During his speech at the dinner, President Trump introduced Ronaldo to his 19-year-old son Barron. “My son is a big fan of Ronaldo,” Trump told the crowd, adding that Barron got to meet him and now respects his father a bit more after the introduction. Ronaldo has been promoting Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to host the 2034 World Cup, and Al-Nassr is majority-owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, which the crown prince chairs. Portugal recently qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and Ronaldo is set to compete in a record sixth World Cup when the tournament begins June 11, 2026, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The crown prince’s visit included major business announcements that pleased President Trump. During an Oval Office meeting, the crown prince revealed that Saudi Arabia plans to increase its investment in the United States from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion. President Trump also announced the country would sell F-35 fighter jets to the Saudi kingdom. A senior administration official said the president would make announcements regarding Saudi investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, enhanced cooperation on civil nuclear energy, and defense sales.
However, the visit sparked controversy due to the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Istanbul by members of the Saudi government. The CIA concluded about a month after the killing that the crown prince had ordered it. A 2021 intelligence report stated that the crown prince approved an operation to capture or kill Khashoggi because he viewed the journalist as a threat to the kingdom and supported using violent measures if necessary to silence him.
When reporters asked about the killing during the visit, Trump defended the crown prince, saying the journalist was extremely controversial and many people did not like him. “Things happen, but he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that,” Trump said, referring to the crown prince’s culpability. The crown prince has denied ordering the murder but has acknowledged responsibility as Saudi Arabia’s leader. At the White House, he addressed the issue: “It’s really painful to hear anyone losing their life for no real purpose.” He added that it has been painful for Saudi Arabia, and the kingdom has improved its systems to ensure such events do not happen again.
The Trump family maintains extensive business relationships with Saudi Arabia. The Trump Organization has announced plans for properties in the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Riyadh. Trump’s former adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, reportedly received a $2 billion investment in his private equity firm from a Saudi fund controlled by the crown prince. Trump is scheduled to attend a Saudi business summit at the Kennedy Center in Washington this week, where discussions will focus on strengthening economic and defense ties between the two nations.
