Blab Politics
Frontlines New Documentary Exposes Trump-Saudi Alliance and Its Controversies
A 90‑minute FRONTLINE documentary, The Crown Prince & the President, premiered on PBS and online on June 30, 2026. The film investigates the relationship between U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), focusing on the political, economic, and human‑rights dimensions of their alliance.
The documentary opens with the historic meeting in the Oval Office in 2025, when Trump welcomed MBS and announced that Saudi Arabia would invest “hundreds of billions of dollars” in the United States. According to the film, the announcement followed a series of earlier agreements, including a 2017 U.S.–Saudi arms deal worth $110 billion and a $350 billion commitment over ten years. The Trump administration portrayed the partnership as essential for U.S. security, oil supply, and regional stability.
The film’s narrative is built on more than 100 interviews with former U.S. officials, Saudi government members, Trump administration insiders, and human‑rights experts. It highlights how Trump’s “transactional” approach to foreign policy attracted Saudi interest. A former Trump associate, Jason Greenblatt, told the documentary that the administration saw Saudi Arabia as a linchpin for peace in the Middle East and a source of oil and defense sales.
A key focus of the documentary is the role of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son‑in‑law and senior advisor on Middle East policy. The film shows Kushner as a central broker in the Trump peace plan and the Abraham Accords, despite having no prior diplomatic experience. The documentary also examines Kushner’s post‑White House business ties to Saudi Arabia through his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, which derives most of its funds from the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
Human‑rights concerns are a recurring theme. The documentary recounts the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Istanbul, an event that U.S. intelligence agencies concluded was ordered by MBS. The film notes that Trump publicly supported MBS after the incident, stating that the investigation must continue and that the United States would remain a steadfast partner.
The documentary also addresses conflict‑of‑interest allegations. Trump and Kushner have repeatedly dismissed concerns that their business relationships with Saudi Arabia influence U.S. policy. According to the film, former deputy national‑security adviser Victoria Coates said that while the appearance of a problem existed, it had not prevented Trump’s re‑election in 2024.
Reactions to the film have been mixed. Human‑rights advocates criticize the Trump administration’s continued support for Saudi Arabia despite the Khashoggi case and the kingdom’s crackdown on dissent. Saudi dissidents, now in exile, argue that the alliance tacitly approves of authoritarian actions. U.S. lawmakers have expressed concern over the close ties between the Trump administration and Saudi officials, citing potential national‑security risks.
The documentary’s release comes at a time when U.S.‑Saudi relations remain complex. While the Trump administration has pursued significant investment deals, the kingdom’s domestic policies and regional actions—such as the Yemen war and coordination with Russia on oil output—continue to raise questions about the alignment of U.S. interests with Saudi priorities.
The Crown Prince & the President is available for streaming on PBS’s website, the PBS App, YouTube, and PBS Documentaries on Prime. The film offers a detailed, fact‑based look at the Trump‑Saudi alliance, its economic dimensions, and the human‑rights controversies that have accompanied it.
The documentary does not resolve the legal or policy questions surrounding the alliance. Ongoing investigations into the Khashoggi murder, U.S. congressional inquiries into Saudi ties, and debates over future U.S. investment agreements remain unresolved.
The documentary opens with the historic meeting in the Oval Office in 2025, when Trump welcomed MBS and announced that Saudi Arabia would invest “hundreds of billions of dollars” in the United States. According to the film, the announcement followed a series of earlier agreements, including a 2017 U.S.–Saudi arms deal worth $110 billion and a $350 billion commitment over ten years. The Trump administration portrayed the partnership as essential for U.S. security, oil supply, and regional stability.
The film’s narrative is built on more than 100 interviews with former U.S. officials, Saudi government members, Trump administration insiders, and human‑rights experts. It highlights how Trump’s “transactional” approach to foreign policy attracted Saudi interest. A former Trump associate, Jason Greenblatt, told the documentary that the administration saw Saudi Arabia as a linchpin for peace in the Middle East and a source of oil and defense sales.
A key focus of the documentary is the role of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son‑in‑law and senior advisor on Middle East policy. The film shows Kushner as a central broker in the Trump peace plan and the Abraham Accords, despite having no prior diplomatic experience. The documentary also examines Kushner’s post‑White House business ties to Saudi Arabia through his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, which derives most of its funds from the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
Human‑rights concerns are a recurring theme. The documentary recounts the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Istanbul, an event that U.S. intelligence agencies concluded was ordered by MBS. The film notes that Trump publicly supported MBS after the incident, stating that the investigation must continue and that the United States would remain a steadfast partner.
The documentary also addresses conflict‑of‑interest allegations. Trump and Kushner have repeatedly dismissed concerns that their business relationships with Saudi Arabia influence U.S. policy. According to the film, former deputy national‑security adviser Victoria Coates said that while the appearance of a problem existed, it had not prevented Trump’s re‑election in 2024.
Reactions to the film have been mixed. Human‑rights advocates criticize the Trump administration’s continued support for Saudi Arabia despite the Khashoggi case and the kingdom’s crackdown on dissent. Saudi dissidents, now in exile, argue that the alliance tacitly approves of authoritarian actions. U.S. lawmakers have expressed concern over the close ties between the Trump administration and Saudi officials, citing potential national‑security risks.
The documentary’s release comes at a time when U.S.‑Saudi relations remain complex. While the Trump administration has pursued significant investment deals, the kingdom’s domestic policies and regional actions—such as the Yemen war and coordination with Russia on oil output—continue to raise questions about the alignment of U.S. interests with Saudi priorities.
The Crown Prince & the President is available for streaming on PBS’s website, the PBS App, YouTube, and PBS Documentaries on Prime. The film offers a detailed, fact‑based look at the Trump‑Saudi alliance, its economic dimensions, and the human‑rights controversies that have accompanied it.
The documentary does not resolve the legal or policy questions surrounding the alliance. Ongoing investigations into the Khashoggi murder, U.S. congressional inquiries into Saudi ties, and debates over future U.S. investment agreements remain unresolved.
