*Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2018 *

**Remarks Prior to a Luncheon With Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and an Exchange With Reporters **

*March 20, 2018 *

*President Trump.* It's an honor to have the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia with us and his representatives, many of whom I know and I met in May when we were over there, where a promise of $400 billion was made by Saudi Arabia for the purchase of our equipment and other things.

And the relationship is probably the strongest it's ever been. We understand each other. Saudi Arabia is a very wealthy nation, and they're going to give the United States some of that wealth, hopefully, in the form of jobs, in the form of the purchase of the finest military equipment anywhere in the world. There's nobody even close.

As I said before, when it comes to the missiles and the planes and all of the military equipment, there's nobody that even comes close to us in terms of technology and the quality of the equipment. And Saudi Arabia appreciates that. They've done tests of everything, and they appreciate it, and they understand it very well, probably better than most.

So I just want to welcome you. It's a great honor to have you back again. Some tremendous things have happened for you since your last visit to the White House, when you were—when you were the Crown Prince, and now you're beyond the Crown Prince. So I want to just congratulate you. I thought your father made a very wise decision. And I miss your father, special man. And I know he's coming over soon. But we do miss him. And that was a very incredible 2 days, and we appreciate the investment in our country. And thank you very much.

*Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.* Thank you, Mr. President. We believe the same. And we believe that the opportunities, it's really huge. And we are trying also to tackle new opportunities and to prepare the visit of His Majesty as soon as possible, with the new waves of opportunities in different area. And we believe we can do all the great things together.

*President Trump.* Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, everybody. Thank you very much.

*Q*. Mr. President—[*inaudible*]?

*Q*. Do you want Robert Mueller fired, Mr. President?

*President Trump*. Thank you very much.

*Shooting at Great Mills High School in Great Mills, MD *

*Q. *[*Inaudible*]—the school shooting that happened earlier today in Maryland?

*President Trump.* Terrible. It's a terrible thing.

NOTE: The President spoke at 12:40 p.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to King Salman bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. A reporter referred to Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III. *Categories:* Interviews With the News Media : Exchange with reporters :: White House; Meetings With Foreign Leaders and International Officials : Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman*.*

*Locations: *Washington, DC.

*Names:* Muhammad bin Salman Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, Crown Prince; Salman bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, King*.*

*Subjects:* Employment and unemployment : Job creation and growth; Saudi Arabia : Crown Prince; Saudi Arabia : King; Saudi Arabia : Relations with U.S.; Saudi Arabia : Trade with U.S.

*DCPD Number:* DCPD201800174.