U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday (November 14, 2025) that he is seriously considering a major arms deal to supply Saudi Arabia with F-35 stealth fighter jets—one of America’s most advanced weapons systems—potentially worth billions of dollars. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to a campaign event, Trump said, “They want to buy a lot of jets. I’m looking at that. They’ve asked me to look at it. They want to buy a lot of ‘35’—actually more than that, fighter jets.”

The potential sale, which could involve up to 48 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II jets, aligns with Trump’s broader push to deepen U.S.-Saudi ties during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s upcoming White House visit on Tuesday (November 18). The leaders are slated to ink a series of economic and defense pacts, including a long-discussed U.S.-Saudi security guarantee. Trump described the meeting as “more than a meeting—we’re honoring Saudi Arabia,” emphasizing Riyadh’s role as a key ally in countering regional threats like Iran.

Trump also reiterated his desire for Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, the 2020 normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states. “I hope they join,” he said, though Riyadh has conditioned participation on progress toward Palestinian statehood—a sticking point amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.

The deal faces hurdles from U.S. defense officials. A Pentagon intelligence assessment, reported by The New York Times on Thursday, warns that selling F-35s to Saudi Arabia risks China gaining access to sensitive stealth and sensor technology through Riyadh’s growing defense ties with Beijing. Israel, the only Middle Eastern nation currently operating F-35s, has also expressed concerns over maintaining its “qualitative military edge” in the region. Despite these, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to greenlight the agreement, pending interagency review and congressional notification.

Saudi Arabia, Washington’s largest Middle East defense client with over $100 billion in arms purchases since 2017, views the F-35 as a cornerstone of its Vision 2030 military modernization. The kingdom already operates U.S.-made F-15s and seeks formal security guarantees in exchange for oil stability and regional cooperation. Analysts say approval could reshape Middle East power dynamics, boosting U.S. jobs (the F-35 program supports 1,800 suppliers) while pressuring Israel on Palestinian issues.