A star-studded gathering took place at the White House on Tuesday, with Portuguese soccer sensation Cristiano Ronaldo and billionaire Elon Musk joining US President Donald Trump for a lavish dinner in honor of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The event, held in the East Room, brought together influential figures from tech, finance, energy, and sports, including FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Ronaldo, currently with Saudi club Al Nassr, was seated near Trump’s table, while Musk, wearing a tuxedo, mingled with guests at a separate candlelit table.
The dinner marked a rare public appearance for Ronaldo in the US, where he hasn’t played since 2014.
Trump acknowledged Ronaldo’s presence, saying, “You know, my son is a big fan of Ronaldo… I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just the fact that I introduced you”.
The US President also praised the Saudi prince as a “man of leadership”, defending him over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The dinner signified a thaw in Trump and Musk’s relationship, which had soured after Musk criticized Trump’s spending bill and faced deportation threats.
Musk, who spent five months as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, accompanied Trump to Saudi Arabia in May.
Ronaldo, who has stated the 2026 World Cup will be his last, expressed admiration for Trump, saying he’d love to meet him.
The dinner was part of the Saudi crown prince’s efforts to strengthen ties with the US and improve his global image.
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