Trump says he is considering F-35 fighter jet deal with Saudis

Trump says he is considering F-35 fighter jet deal with Saudis
U.S. Marine Corps F-35 fighter jets in Puerto Rico, 1 November, 2025
Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he is considering approving a deal to supply Saudi Arabia with F-35 stealth fighter jets, which are manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

“They want to buy a lot of jets,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

“I’m looking at that. They’ve asked me to look into it. They want to buy a lot of F-35s – but they actually want to buy more than that, fighter jets.”

The potential sale comes as Trump plans to host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House next week, where they are expected to sign economic and defence agreements.

When asked about the discussions, Trump told reporters that it was “more than a meeting, we’re honouring” Saudi Arabia.

He reiterated his hope that Saudi Arabia would soon join the Abraham Accords, which have normalised relations between Israel and Muslim-majority countries. However, Riyadh has resisted such a move without an agreement on a plan for Palestinian statehood.

A Pentagon intelligence report has raised concerns over the potential F-35 sale, warning that China could gain access to the aircraft's technology if the deal goes ahead, according to the New York Times, citing sources familiar with the assessment.

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