Saudi Arabia Arrests 11 Princes, Including Billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal
LONDON — Saudi Arabia announced the arrest on Saturday night of the prominent billionaire investor Prince
Alwaleed bin Talal, plus at least 10 other princes, four ministers and tens of former ministers.
The prince was part of a group of investors who bought control of the Plaza Hotel in New York from Mr. Trump,
and he also bought an expensive yacht from him as well.
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.
Before sparring with Mr. Trump, Prince Alwaleed was publicly rebuffed by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, who rejected his $10 million donation for the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York
because the prince had also criticized American foreign policy.
The king had decreed the creation of a powerful new anti-corruption committee, headed
by the crown prince, only hours before the committee ordered the arrests.
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.
But in a twitter message in 2015 the prince called Mr. Trump “a disgrace not only to the GOP but to all America.”
@realDonaldTrumpYou are a disgrace not only to the GOP but to all America.
