How to impress a US president? Spin up a fighter jet escort for Air Force One

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Donald Trump received a lavish royal welcome from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he arrived in the kingdom Tuesday on the first stop of his Mideast trip.

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Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provide an honorary escort for Air Force One, with President Donald Trump aboard, as it arrives in Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provide an honorary escort for Air Force One, with President Donald Trump aboard, as it arrives in Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provide an honorary escort for Air Force One, with President Donald Trump aboard, as it arrives in Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provide an honorary escort for Air Force One, with President Donald Trump aboard, as it arrives in Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provide an honorary escort for Air Force One, with President Donald Trump aboard, as it arrives in Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia didn’t even wait for U.S. President Donald Trump to land there before it set out to impress him in a sky-high way.

As Trump flew in to Riyadh on Tuesday, he got a ceremonial escort from six Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s as his plane approached the kingdom’s capital — an exceptionally rare sight.

Margo Martin, a White House official, posted video of the escort online, declaring, “Saudi F-15’s providing honorary escort for Air Force One!”

The Royal Saudi Air Force has the world’s largest fleet of F-15s after the U.S. Air Force.