Cristiano Ronaldo’s participation in an official dinner at the White House, as part of the delegation that accompanied the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salmán, became one of the most talked about moments of the visit. According to the Lusa news agency, the captain of the Portuguese team was present in the East Room, at an event in which Donald Trump highlighted his arrival in front of the guests.
According to the same source, the dinner did not start at the scheduled time due to a problem that occurred outside the dining room.
The heavy rain that fell over Washington DC forced the protocol team to protect the red carpet placed at the entrance with an improvised tent, an operation that delayed the reception and required adjustments in welcoming guests. According to the same source, only after this adaptation was it possible to continue the program.
Elon Musk was present
Once the unforeseen situation had been overcome, the meeting went according to plan and was also attended by Elon Musk. The businessman thus returned to the White House after a period away from the Republican president, joining the group of guests linked to the official Saudi visit.
Dinner marked by speeches and strategic presences
The newspaper writes that Donald Trump opened the dinner with an intervention in which he highlighted the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, mentioning that his son Barron was particularly excited to meet him. The comment, made ironically, highlighted that the meeting could increase the son’s respect for the presidential figure.
Ronaldo, accompanied by Georgina Rodríguez, was placed at the top of the table, although he was not called upon to speak. Trump also took the opportunity to characterize Mohammed bin Salmán as a relevant partner for peace and prosperity, including in the Middle East.
Diplomacy, protocol and symbolism
He mentions that the meeting brought together figures from different areas, reinforcing the visibility of the Saudi visit. Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence resulted from the player’s direct connection to Saudi football, which included him in the official delegation. The event took place according to protocol and ended without additional interventions by the Portuguese athlete.
The publication adds that the dinner sought to highlight cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia, with a strong symbolic component associated with the reception at the White House. The meeting ended with the usual procedures, without additional changes to the program.
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