May 13, 2025 - News

Suarez's latest Saudi appearance

Sommer Brugal

Miami Mayor Suarez shaking another man's hand. — Mayor Francis Suarez shake hands with H.E. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, of Saudi Arabia, at the FII PRIORITY Summit in February. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez was among the handful of high-profile guests who attended a luncheon on Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for President Trump's multi-day tour.

Why it matters: Suarez has a longstanding relationship with Saudi Arabia, from attending conferences to announcing an investment office in Miami.

He was seemingly the only U.S. municipal government official on the guest list, reported the Miami Herald.
He was also included in a list of speakers expected at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum on Tuesday, the Miami New Times reported.

Between the lines: Trump has yet to nominate an ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

What they're saying: A spokesperson for Suarez told the Herald the mayor was traveling in a private capacity but attending the event representing the city of Miami.

The part-time role allows him to "build relationships, attract investments, and elevate Miami's global profile," the spokesperson said.

The big picture: The president arrived in the Gulf on Monday with the hopes of returning home with $1 trillion worth of deals and investment pledges.

One particular focus of the trip will be investments in AI and tech, Axios reported.

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Suarez's latest Saudi appearance

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