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King of Saudi Arabia makes grandest of entrances in DC, booking every room in the luxurious Four Seasons hotel for meeting with Obama
A fleet of luxury cars, a hotel covered in gold, and even red carpets laid down in the parking lot.
So was the scene in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. this week upon the arrival of the King of Saudi Arabia, who met with President Obama at the White House on Friday.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz booked the entire Four Seasons for his three-night stay, forcing guests who had booked to stay in the 222-room hotel during his visit to be moved to nearby luxury hotels.
And the hotel, where suites run for more than $2,000 a night, has added some new touches to suit the 79-year-old king's tastes.
Eyewitnesses told Politico they've seen gilded furniture wheeled into the hotel this week, with red carpets being laid down in the hallway and even on the asphalt of the hotel's parking garage.
'Everything is gold,' one regular told the website. 'Gold mirrors, gold end tables, gold lamps, even gold hat racks.'
Georgetown's streets were lined with Cadillac SUV's belonging to King Salman's delegation, which includes Saudi diplomats as well as his own family and assistants.
The king is known for having quite the entourage. Just last month he brought 1,000 people for a vacation on the French Riviera, closing down an entire beach.
King Salman, who ascended to the throne in January following the death of his half-brother King Abdullah, met with Obama to discuss the Iran nuclear deal.
It is his first visit to the United States since taking the throne, and his first time seeing Obama since they met in January.
+4
Guests booked to stay in the 222-room hotel during the king's visit had to be moved to nearby luxury hotels
+4
Eyewitnesses told Politico they've seen gilded furniture wheeled into the hotel this week, with red carpets being laid down in the hallway and even on the asphalt of the hotel's parking garage
Salman skipped a Gulf Arab summit at Camp David in May, a move widely seen as a diplomatic snub over Obama's Iran strategy - though both governments denied that interpretation.
Obama secured a political victory this week, when enough Senate Democrats threw their support behind the Iran nuclear deal to sustain a threatened veto of any congressional vote of disapproval.
Saudi Arabia and Iran are opposed on a number of regional issues, especially the 4 1/2-year-long Syrian civil war and unrest in Yemen, where a coalition of Arab states led by the capital, and assisted by the United States, are targeting Iran-allied Houthi forces.
The Obama administration is focused on providing assistance the president promised at the Camp David summit, including helping Gulf states integrate ballistic missile defense systems and beef up cyber and maritime security.
Despite the tensions, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia depend on each other on crucial security, business, and economic issues.
Saudi Arabia remains the world's largest oil exporter, and its commitment to pumping oil freely despite a recent price decline has helped contribute to sustaining the U.S. economic recovery.
Obama and Salman will also discuss global energy markets during the visit, the White House said.
+4
King Salman, who ascended to the throne in January following the death of his half-brother King Abdullah, is meeting with Obama to discuss the Iran nuclear deal
Read more: King Salman of Saudi Arabia books entire Four Seasons hotel for Washington DC trip | Daily Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
- King Salman rented out the entire 222-room hotel for his three-night stay
- Guests who had booked during his visit were forced to move to other nearby luxury hotels
- Hotel regulars saw gold furniture being wheeled into the hotel and red carpets being laid down in the parking garage and hallways
- Georgetown's streets lined with Cadillac SUV's belonging to his entourage
- King Salman met with Obama on Friday to discuss the Iran nuclear deal
A fleet of luxury cars, a hotel covered in gold, and even red carpets laid down in the parking lot.
So was the scene in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. this week upon the arrival of the King of Saudi Arabia, who met with President Obama at the White House on Friday.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz booked the entire Four Seasons for his three-night stay, forcing guests who had booked to stay in the 222-room hotel during his visit to be moved to nearby luxury hotels.
And the hotel, where suites run for more than $2,000 a night, has added some new touches to suit the 79-year-old king's tastes.
Eyewitnesses told Politico they've seen gilded furniture wheeled into the hotel this week, with red carpets being laid down in the hallway and even on the asphalt of the hotel's parking garage.
'Everything is gold,' one regular told the website. 'Gold mirrors, gold end tables, gold lamps, even gold hat racks.'
Georgetown's streets were lined with Cadillac SUV's belonging to King Salman's delegation, which includes Saudi diplomats as well as his own family and assistants.
The king is known for having quite the entourage. Just last month he brought 1,000 people for a vacation on the French Riviera, closing down an entire beach.
King Salman, who ascended to the throne in January following the death of his half-brother King Abdullah, met with Obama to discuss the Iran nuclear deal.
It is his first visit to the United States since taking the throne, and his first time seeing Obama since they met in January.
+4
Guests booked to stay in the 222-room hotel during the king's visit had to be moved to nearby luxury hotels
+4
Eyewitnesses told Politico they've seen gilded furniture wheeled into the hotel this week, with red carpets being laid down in the hallway and even on the asphalt of the hotel's parking garage
Salman skipped a Gulf Arab summit at Camp David in May, a move widely seen as a diplomatic snub over Obama's Iran strategy - though both governments denied that interpretation.
Obama secured a political victory this week, when enough Senate Democrats threw their support behind the Iran nuclear deal to sustain a threatened veto of any congressional vote of disapproval.
Saudi Arabia and Iran are opposed on a number of regional issues, especially the 4 1/2-year-long Syrian civil war and unrest in Yemen, where a coalition of Arab states led by the capital, and assisted by the United States, are targeting Iran-allied Houthi forces.
The Obama administration is focused on providing assistance the president promised at the Camp David summit, including helping Gulf states integrate ballistic missile defense systems and beef up cyber and maritime security.
Despite the tensions, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia depend on each other on crucial security, business, and economic issues.
Saudi Arabia remains the world's largest oil exporter, and its commitment to pumping oil freely despite a recent price decline has helped contribute to sustaining the U.S. economic recovery.
Obama and Salman will also discuss global energy markets during the visit, the White House said.
+4
King Salman, who ascended to the throne in January following the death of his half-brother King Abdullah, is meeting with Obama to discuss the Iran nuclear deal
Read more: King Salman of Saudi Arabia books entire Four Seasons hotel for Washington DC trip | Daily Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
