Football great Cristiano Ronaldo appeared as a star guest at the state banquet for Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday evening. US President Donald Trump previously described it as an “honor” to receive the exceptional Portuguese athlete, whose move to the Saudi Arabian league has made him the face of the emerging football culture there.
Pictures from the dinner show Ronaldo sitting at the table next to the Crown Prince. First Lady Melania Trump can be seen in the background of the ceremoniously decorated hall. Pictures of the footballer with US President Trump have not yet been published. On the official White House Instagram account, only Trump and Salman smile side by side for the cameras.
A White House spokesman left it open whether Ronaldo had traveled as part of the Crown Prince’s official delegation. Critics accuse Saudi Arabia of wanting to use its sports investments to distract attention from the questionable human rights situation and the environmental consequences of the oil industry – through so-called “sportswashing”.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Trump’s son Barron is a big fan
In his speech at the dinner, Trump highlighted strengthened ties with Saudi Arabia and described the country as an “important non-NATO ally,” according to the BBC. Turning to CR7, Trump then waxed lyrical and revealed: “My son is a big fan of Ronaldo.” Barron Trump, 19, was also able to meet his idol, so Trump joked: “I think he respects his father a little more now, just because I introduced you.”
According to the report, other guests included tech billionaire Elon Musk, who appeared along with other influential entrepreneurs such as Apple boss Tim Cook. It was Musk’s first visit to the White House since he resigned as head of the Government Efficiency Ministry (Doge) in April. There had been a public feud between Trump and the Tesla boss for months, during which Musk even announced the founding of a new party.
