Saudi Arabia arrests 11 princes, including billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal who once had a Twitter spat with Donald Trump

London: Saudi Arabia on Saturday night announced the arrest of the prominent billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, plus at least 10 other princes, four ministers and tens of former ministers.

The announcement of the arrests was made over Al Arabiya, the Saudi-owned satellite network whose broadcasts are officially approved. Prince Alwaleed’s arrest is sure to send shock waves both through the kingdom and the world’s major financial centers.

He controls the investment firm Kingdom Holding and is one of the world’s richest men, owning or having owned major stakes in News Corp, Citigroup, Twitter and many other well-known companies. The prince also controls satellite television networks watched across the Arab world.

The sweeping campaign of arrests appears to be the latest move to consolidate the power of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the favorite son and top adviser of King Salman.

At 32, the crown prince is already the dominant voice in Saudi military, foreign, economic and social policies, stirring murmurs of discontent in the royal family that he has amassed too much personal power, and at a remarkably young age.

According to a New York Times report, the anti-corruption committee that ordered the arrest of Alwaleed and the other 10 princes was decreed a few hours before the arrests were ordered. The same report also claimed that at least three senior White House officials, including Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law were in Riyadh last month. The details of the meetings were not disclosed.

Alwaleed Bin Talal is the same Saudi prince, current US President Donald Trump had a Twitter spat with back in 2016. Here’s what conspired during the infamous Twitter fight.

Responding to Trump’s calls for banning Muslims from entering the US, Alwaleed Bin Talal called out to Trump and asked him to drop out of the US Presidential elections.

“@realDonaldTrump You are a disgrace not only to the GOP but to all America. Withdraw from the U.S presidential race as you will never win,” Talal wrote on Twitter back in 2015.

Trump being the way he is, responded back calling the Saudi prince “dopey” and accusing him of trying to control US’ politicians with his daddy’s money.

Interestingly, Alwaleed Bin Talal had helped Trump twice during the 1990s with his finances. Bin Talal owns a yacht which he bought in the early 90s. The yacht was called Trump Princess till after Alwaleed Bin Talal bought it and renamed it Kingdom 5KR. A few years later, Alwaleed again came to Trump’s rescue by buying stakes in Trump’s Plaza Hotel, once Trump’s favourite hotel.

However, after Trump won the US Presidential elections, Talal tweeted to congratulate him. “President elect @realDonaldTrump whatever the past differences, America has spoken, congratulations & best wishes for your presidency,” Talal wrote on Twitter.

The sweeping campaign of arrests is seen, by many, as an attempt by King Salman to strengthen the hold of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman over Saudi Arabian politics. The crown prince is one of the leading voices in matters of defense, finance, military and social policies in the country. Reports also suggest that the crown prince has grown closer to US President Donald Trump.
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