US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman hold hands during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, November 18, 2025. (photo credit: EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/REUTERS)
As Houthi attacks pressure Riyadh, Israel and US elections complicate Washington’s normalization ambitions, while Saudi public opinion and demands for Palestinian statehood remain obstacles.