White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ignited an internet firestorm Thursday after commenting that the new Saudi nuclear deal would put America First.
During a White House press conference, a reporter pressed her to explain why this negotiation was underway.
"Why does Saudi Arabia get a civilian nuclear deal but Iran doesn’t get a civilian nuclear deal?" the reporter asked.
"This agreement in particular, as it's been discussed thus far, does give priority access for American companies and the Saudi nuclear energy program, which will ultimately benefit American industry workers and supply chain," Leavitt said. "So, the deal that has been discussed thus far and will continue to be discussed absolutely puts America first, and that's obviously very important to this president."
Political experts and commentators weighed in on Leavitt's remarks.
"Remind me again, where 15th (sic) of the 19 9/11 hijackers were from? Remind me again of which government was known and found to have been associated with the 9/11 attacks? Oh! That’s right, Saudi Arabia. But yep it’s about ‘Murica 1st!" Democratic strategist Corbin Trent, former communications director for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and former Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) team member who now runs the Super PAC A Fight Worth Having, wrote on X.
"15 of the 19 9/11 terrorists were from Saudi Arabia? As was the mastermind, Osama bin Laden," Sarah Larchmont, progressive political commentator, wrote on X.
"Saudi Arabia flew planes into American buildings on 9/11 and chopped up a journalist they didn’t like," wrote Jim Stewartson, writer and political commentator, in a post on X. Stewartson was referring to the murder of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi, who was targeted by a hit squad with ties to the highest levels of Saudi Arabia's government.
"A $1B Trump complex is not putting America first. Anything that prioritizes a Trump or billionaire pocket over the security and wellbeing of the American people is not America first," political scientist Natascha Dea Burdeinei wrote on X.
"Actually, it puts Saudi Arabia first and the Trump family benefits," X account PNW Area Man, who frequently comments on politics, wrote on X.
Remind me again, where 15th of the 19 9/11 hijackers were from? Remind me again of which government was known and found to have been associated with the 9/11 attacks? Oh! That’s right Saudi Arabia. But yep it’s about ‘Murica 1st! https://t.co/GwGSDXRgBR
— Corbin Trent (@corbintrent) July 23, 2026