Trump describes ‘crazy’ American concepts he claims Saudis do not comprehend

President Donald Trump joked to Saudi business and political leaders that Crown Prince MBS' people wouldn’t believe the 'woke' issues in the US
PUBLISHED NOV 20, 2025
Donald Trump criticized transgender issues in US sports, telling Saudis they don’t 'do a lot of transitioning,' while calling supporters of the issue 'crazy' (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Donald Trump criticized transgender issues in US sports, telling Saudis they don’t 'do a lot of transitioning,' while calling supporters of the issue 'crazy' (Win McNamee/Getty Images)


WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Wednesday, November 19, joked with Saudi business and political leaders about how they don't have “woke” people in their country during the US–Saudi Investment Forum.

The POTUS laughed boisterously from the stage at the forum while insisting that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's people wouldn't believe the “woke” things that happen in the United States.

Trump says the word 'liberal' doesn't exist in Saudi Arabia

During the event on Wednesday, Trump bragged that the concept of "woke" is "virtually illegal" in the US after he returned to office for a second term.

While speaking at the Kennedy Center, Trump offered more praise for bin Salman, calling him the "most respected man in the room" and claiming that he "used your name hundreds of times" to repeat his praise of the Trump administration's first year back in office. 

President Donald Trump and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia stand for a photo with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and other participants at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center on November 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. The forum is intended to bring together business leaders, innovators and political leaders with the goal of strengthening economic ties and promoting investment between the United States and Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia stand for a photo with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and other participants at the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center on November 19, 2025, in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

However, Trump went a bit off script while addressing the growing issue of biological men competing in women's sports during Joe Biden's single term. The POTUS looked at the crowd and said, "A lot of the Saudis are sitting here saying, 'What the hell is he talking about transitioning?' They don't do a lot of transitioning."

He also told the audience that those who support the issue in the US are "crazy." Interestingly, any transgender expression, including cross-dressing, is criminalized under moral and Sharia-based laws in Saudi Arabia.

President Donald Trump and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia stand for a photo with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and other participants at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center on November 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. The forum is intended to bring together business leaders, innovators and political leaders with the goal of strengthening economic ties and promoting investment between the United States and Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia stand for a photo with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and other participants at the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center on November 19, 2025, in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Further in his speech, the POTUS claimed that the word "liberal" doesn't exist in the Middle Eastern nation. He said, "I don't know about in your country, I don't know if you know that word 'liberal,' the word 'liberal' doesn't exist."

"You can't use 'liberal,' you have to use the word 'progressive.' And I don't like using it. It's a beautiful word, 'progressive.' Progressive, that's not them. They're regressive," the POTUS added.

Trump touts AI plan, criticizes ‘woke’ states for slowing progress

Later in his speech, the POTUS said he is pushing for a single approval process for Artificial Intelligence (AI) legislation because, if it has to go through all 50 states, it would become too "woke."

Trump claimed that "50 states is a disaster because you'll have one woke state and you'll have to do all woke." "We don't have woke anymore in this country. It's virtually illegal. But you'll have a couple of wokesters, and we don't want to do that. We want to get the AI done," the president said.

US President Donald Trump (Left) and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia pause for photographs along the West Wing Colonnade at the White House on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. The two leaders held meetings aimed at strengthening economic and defense ties, including the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump  and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia pause for photographs along the West Wing Colonnade at the White House on November 18, 2025, in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Interestingly, Trump faced criticism for his meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince on Tuesday, November 18, and for defending him against questions over US intelligence findings that bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The POTUS said the question was embarrassing, claiming that Khashoggi was an "extremely controversial" person and insisting that the Saudi Crown Prince "knew nothing about" his death.

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