Former President Joe Biden‘s son Hunter Biden questioned the contrast between military action against Iran’s uranium enrichment program and a new agreement reportedly allowing Saudi Arabia to pursue uranium enrichment with U.S. support.
Hunter took to X and said Saudi Arabia rejected the international nuclear inspection protocol accepted by 140 other countries, calling it too “intrusive.” He alleged that President Donald Trump bypassed the requirement by signing a national security waiver.
“The first time the United States has ever helped another country enrich uranium on foreign soil,” he wrote.
Hunter Biden then highlighted Saudi Arabia’s financial ties to the Trump family, citing $2 billon investments in son-in-law Jared Kushner‘s firm, and a $6 billion funding for LIV Golf, and billions in Trump-branded real estate deals, suggesting extensive business relationships between the two sides.
Kushner’s Saudi Ties Under Scrutiny
Kushner’s connection to the Saudi Arabian government has drawn scrutiny on several occasions in the past. His Affinity Partners has grown to manage $5.4 billion, fueled in part by a $2 billion Saudi investment received shortly after the first Trump administration ended. The firm has yet to generate profits for investors, while its role in the $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) has further intensified scrutiny.
Kushner, however, dismissed conflict-of-interest concerns over his foreign business ties, arguing they reflect valuable experience and trusted relationships that helped advance recent diplomatic efforts in the region.
White House did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comments.
Biden’s Saudi Nuclear Strategy
Notably, the U.S. has pursued a civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia since both the first Trump administration and the Biden administration.
The Biden administration was willing to pursue a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, but only if the kingdom agreed to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel. Those efforts largely stalled after Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza, reported the Wall Street Journal. Moreover, nonproliferation experts warned the deal could give Saudi Arabia a pathway to develop nuclear weapons.
On Thursday, Trump also said the U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear agreement would only move forward only if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords. He said the deal would be limited to peaceful civilian nuclear use, similar to non-enriched nuclear programs in countries like the UAE.
The agreement would support Saudi Arabia’s nuclear energy program while creating billions of dollars in opportunities for U.S. nuclear companies, pending congressional review. Saudi Arabia also pledged to increase its U.S. investments to nearly $1 trillion. Supporters say the deal strengthens bilateral ties and counters Chinese and Russian influence, while critics warn it could heighten nuclear proliferation risks and fuel a regional arms race.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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