President Trump physically touched Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

In Saudi culture, touching someone of the opposite sex—especially in a formal setting—can be considered highly inappropriate, even forbidden. Trump’s gesture, likely meant as a friendly or reassuring pat, stood out because it broke a strong cultural norm.

It made international headlines partly because it highlighted the differences in etiquette and diplomacy—what’s casual or normal in one culture can be very sensitive in another.

If you want, I can break down exactly why it was culturally significant and how it was perceived in Saudi Arabia versus the U.S. perspective.