After the murder of Jamal Khashhoggi, who was a journalist of Saudi Arabia, many boycotted the Royal conference. And the controversial situation arose because Jamal was a journalist critical of the royal family, and was murdered. Due to the sensitive situation, many boycotted the Royal Conference. But this year there is a change.
Some of the biggest banking and political players will attend the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh that’s on October 29-October 30th. Many high profile people are to attend the conference. The A-list has United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, BlackRock, Inc. CEO Larry Fink, Goldman Sachs Group investment banking partner (and former White House aide) Dina Powell, Moelis & Company Vice Chairman Eric Cantor, himself a former GOP House majority leader, and World Bank President David Malpas.
Mnuchin was to attend the conference last year as well. But after the controversial murder case and the involvement of Royal family in it he did not. The White House finally withdrew from the conference. However, this year will be different. White House will send a senior official, most likely Mnuchin, to the conference as mentioned by Fox Business.
Last year was a different story. The royal family was suspected and the news of the death of a journalist was making rounds. Now when the heat isn’t present, U.S wants to see how it can profit with its connection to Mohammed bin Salman. He plans on pushing forward with a planned initial public offering. If U.S. partners up with him they will profit from the move. Because he owns the the biggest ever Saudi state-owned oil and gas company – Saudi Aramco. Trump and Aramco can come together and make millions of dollars by the end of the year if the conference is a success.