{
  "id": 19849058,
  "title": "Trump says Saudi Arabia is 'disintegrating'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/trump-says-saudi-arabia-is-disintegrating-19849058",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-13T18:02:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/trump-says-saudi-arabia-disintegrating"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "US President Donald Trump declared Saudi Arabia to be \"disintegrating\" in an interview released on Friday, a statement that is expected to strain relations with the kingdom, which is currently facing missile and drone strikes from Yemen's Houthis. This judgment came during a conversation with sports commentator Stephen A. Smith, where Trump boasted about his ability to dismantle Iran's infrastructure within three days, but noted that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have requested that the US refrain from taking such actions due to their own perceived vulnerabilities. Trump stated, \"If I want to take them out, I hit their [energy] in one day. Their energy is gone. In one day, their bridges are gone, and in one day, their manufacturing capability is gone. It would only take me three days, one day each.\" He added that Saudi Arabia has requested a period of stability, citing the similar situations in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. This is not the first instance of Trump expressing his influence over Gulf states, particularly Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In March, Trump alleged that the Saudi leader did not anticipate the current circumstances and had underestimated Trump's influence, stating, \"He (MBS) didn't think this was going to happen… he didn't think he'd be kissing my ass… he thought it’d be just another American president that was a loser… but now he has to be nice to me.\"",
  "summary": "Trump says Saudi Arabia is 'disintegrating' Saudi Arabia is “disintegrating”, US President Donald Trump said in an interview released on Friday, which is likely to offend the kingdom, as it suffers missile and drone strikes from Yemen’s Houthis. Trump passed judgment on Saudi Arabia, one of the US’s closest allies, in an interview with Stephen A Smith, boasting he could destroy Iran in three days…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}