BBC Radio Interview on Trump Visit

Jun 18, 2025

Close-up of a studio microphone symbolizing a BBC Radio interview on President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia.

On air with BBC Radio 5 Live’s Gulfcast, discussing the significance of President Trump’s Gulf visit and how Saudi youth viewed its impact. (Source: Pexels)

On 13 May 2025, I joined BBC Radio 5 Live’s Gulfcast with host Matt Chorley and The Economist’s Middle East correspondent, Gregg Carlstrom, to discuss President Trump’s second official visit to Saudi Arabia. The conversation explored the strategic goals of the trip and its reception within Saudi society. We focused in particular on how younger Saudis viewed the visit—not through its lavish ceremony, but through its potential to unlock opportunities: internships, esports sponsorships, and visa-free travel.

The five-day Gulf tour, Trump’s first foreign visit since taking office in January 2025, also included stops in Qatar and the UAE. The discussion aired live; interested listeners may search BBC Radio 5 Gulfcast with Matt Chorley to locate the programme.