Ronaldo joins Trump, MBS, Musk and Infantino for dinner at the White House

November 19 – Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo attended a White House black-tie dinner alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

At the dinner, with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino and Elon Musk among the guests, US President Donald Trump recognised the player in his speech and said it was an “honour” to host Ronaldo. The Portugal player is the face of the Saudi Pro League, where he plies his trade for Al Nassr.  At the end of 2022, he joined the club on a reported $200 million-a-year contract.

“Barron (Donald’s 19-year-old son) got to meet him,” said Trump. “And I think he respects his father a little bit more, now, just the fact that I introduced you.”

Next year, Ronaldo will play in his sixth World Cup finals with Portugal. His attendance at the White House marked a rare visit to the US where he had faced an allegation of sexual assault. Kathryn Mayorga alleged that Ronaldo raped her in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009, which he denied. In 2017, German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that Ronaldo had years earlier paid $375,000 in hush money.

“I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in,” he said in a statement in 2018.

No criminal charges were ever filed.

Ronaldo has also promoted the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. FIFA fast-tracked the Saudi bid to ensure the Arab Kingdom would land the hosting rights. Ronaldo said: “After what I see, I’m more convinced that 2034 will be the best World Cup ever.”

It was unclear if the player was a part of Mohamed Bin Salman’s delegation. The Saudi Crown Prince and his regime have faced allegations of serious human rights abuses, including the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Earlier on Monday, Trump, when intervening in a question by the media to Bin Salman about Khashoggi said: “A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about, whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen.

Bin Salman said Saudi Arabia “did all the right steps” to investigate Mr Khashoggi’s death. “It’s painful and it’s a huge mistake.”

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