Donald Trump claims Saudi Arabia and Israel would not exist without his presidency

In an interview with TIME, US President Donald Trump claimed that both Saudi Arabia and Israel would have been ‘wiped off the face of the planet’ if he were not in office. Trump asserted that his leadership and the protection provided by the United States have been critical to the survival of these nations.

Trump also addressed his diplomatic ties with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, stating that their relationship remains ‘very good’ and that he ‘likes the crown prince.’ These comments follow reports that Trump had previously rejected a request from the Crown Prince for direct US military intervention against Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen.