Trump’s Riyadh Speech Wasn’t About Democracy—It Was About Dominance
Trump didn’t bring democracy to Riyadh—he brought skyscrapers, chip deals, and admiration for absolute power. At a podium flanked by Saudi royals, oil magnates, and global CEOs, he delivered something far more revealing than a policy speech: a blueprint for what he believes makes a nation great.
Gone were any mentions of ballots or press freedom. In their place: references to towering buildings, trillion-dollar investments, and a leader who, in Trump’s words, “tosses and turns all night” thinking about how to make his country better. For Donald Trump, that’s not a red flag—it’s a qualification.
What to Watch
Trump’s speech in Riyadh replaces liberal democratic language with development envy. Skyscrapers, trade deals, and elite diplomacy become the new currency of international respect. What does that reveal about his vision—and who listens?
Nation-Building Is Out. Deal-Making Is In.
“It’s amazing what a rising market will do,” Trump quipped midway through the address. His admiration for the Saudi transformation is unambiguous: majestic towers, economic diversification, and Formula One races as proof of modernization—without the burden of Western-style governance.
He took direct aim at previous U.S. foreign policy, saying the “so-called nation-builders” failed to achieve anything close to what Saudi Arabia had under MBS. There was no mention of elections, civil society, or press freedoms. There was, however, plenty of praise for commercial contracts, tariffs, and regulatory purges.
Gone were the Bush-era Freedom Agenda and Obama’s Cairo reset. In their place: Gulfstream diplomacy and sovereign wealth handshake deals.
Authoritarian Efficiency, With Applause
Trump wasn’t vague about what he respects. He called out NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang by name, thanking him for a $500 billion investment and likening his work to the transformation seen in Riyadh. For Trump, Huang and Mohammed bin Salman are two of a kind—builders of empires.
There is a core thesis in Trump’s speech: strong individuals make strong nations. Institutions, watchdogs, and legislative processes are distractions. Greatness is decided by altitude—of towers, stock prices, or military power—not participation.
What Gets Left Out
Nowhere in this speech does Trump reference human rights, civil liberties, or the freedom of dissent. The message is one of visible progress—measured in infrastructure and trade—not invisible freedoms. The vision is compelling for some, but it skips over the question: who gets to participate in this growth?
By reducing diplomacy to economic output, the speech risks embracing a global “CEO diplomacy” that trades soft power for hard returns.
From Red Tape to Red Maps
The domestic analog was clear. Trump bragged about cutting 10 regulations for every new one, flipping the electoral map “all red,” and turning the Gulf of Mexico into the “Gulf of America.” Foreign policy is business strategy. Territory, branding, and leverage are the tools of the new diplomacy.
To some, this might seem unserious. But to many listening in that room, it made sense.
Ballantyne’s Own Empire Builders
And what about closer to home? While we’re not building megacities, a few Ballantyne locals are quietly rewriting their own sectors:
📍 Einstein Bros. Bagels in Ballantyne fuels local visionaries with Nova Lox, bacon cheddar egg sandwiches, and honey almond lattes. Swing by 13736 Conlan Cir, open daily from 6 AM–2 PM.
📍 Gabby Starr at Transamerica is flipping the script on life insurance by centering women and single parents in financial planning.
📍 Djarta Halliday of WanderLuxuryTravel builds dream itineraries with Condé Nast-level access and Pfizer-precision project management.
Each of these leaders is proving that transformation doesn’t always require sovereign wealth or missile systems—just vision, stamina, and maybe a shmear of honey almond.
About the Author
Nell Thomas writes about global ambition and local grit for The Charlotte Mercury and Strolling Ballantyne. When she’s not chasing political narratives, she’s parked at Einstein Bros. Bagels in Ballantyne, sipping honey almond coffee with the conviction of someone who’s about to overuse the word “hegemony.”
You can find her work at StrollingBallantyne.com and CLTMercury.com, where she occasionally files stories that include fewer references to missile inventories.
📸 Share your skyline, your startup, or your story: ballantyne@strollmag.com.
🍷 RSVP now for our Sip & Stroll at Ballantyne Country Club on May 22, 6–8 PM. Bring a friend. Or a rival. We don’t judge.