Podcast Summary: The Tucker Carlson Show

Episode: Saudi Arabia’s Richest Man Prince Alwaleed bin Talal on Trump’s Tariffs, DeepSeek, Israel, and Iran
Release Date: February 5, 2025

In this compelling episode of The Tucker Carlson Show, host Tucker Carlson engages in an in-depth conversation with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Saudi Arabia’s wealthiest individual and a renowned international investor. The discussion spans a wide array of topics, including U.S. foreign policy under President Trump, Middle Eastern geopolitics, media investments, the rise of artificial intelligence, trade tariffs, energy policies, and social reforms in Saudi Arabia. Prince Alwaleed provides unique insights shaped by his extensive experience in global investments and deep understanding of geopolitical dynamics.

1. Trump’s Administration and Its Legacy

Tucker Carlson begins the conversation by acknowledging Prince Alwaleed’s renowned investment acumen, noting his successful track record over 45 years. He expresses eagerness to hear Prince Alwaleed’s perspective on the current global landscape.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal expresses optimism about the Trump administration's direction:

“With the Trump administration coming very forcefully... I am optimistic, cautiously optimistic. But it's going to take some time because the legacy that Trump had is a big one.” [00:51]

He emphasizes the strong start of Trump's policies and hopes the momentum will positively influence both domestic and international affairs:

“The momentum stays and have a positive effect on the international community as much as it will have a good impact on the domestic policy.” [01:12]

2. Middle Eastern Geopolitics: Israel, Palestine, and Iran

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the enduring Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the broader regional tensions involving Iran.

Tucker Carlson raises concerns about potential escalating conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East under Trump’s leadership.
Prince Alwaleed responds by highlighting the critical meeting between Netanyahu and Trump, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian issue:

“It's about time to have a peaceful resolution to this Palestinian issue that's been going on since the late 1940s.” [02:57]

He supports Saudi Arabia’s stance for recognizing Palestinian statehood and establishing East Jerusalem as its capital:

“We need a Palestinian state... as its capital city, East Jerusalem. So if these things are met, I think Saudi Arabia is more than ready to have diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.” [03:00]

Regarding Iran, Prince Alwaleed is unequivocal in his condemnation:

“Iran is a nation based dogmatically on terroristic ideas... It’s not easy, not difficult at all to be an alliance with any country against Iran.” [03:53]

He underscores the destabilizing influence of Iran across the region, aligning Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy firmly against Tehran’s ambitions:

“Iran always plants the seeds of trouble, chaos, and confusion wherever they are.” [04:37]

3. Media Investments: Shift from Fox to X and XAI

Transitioning to media, Prince Alwaleed discusses his strategic shift from legacy media to newer platforms influenced by Elon Musk.

He explains divesting from Fox News before its merger with Disney:

“Our main investment was with Fox... we sold out a year before he merged his entities with Disney.” [12:24]

Subsequently, he highlights significant investments in Elon Musk’s platforms:

“Most of our investments now went to X and XAI... we are the second biggest shareholder in X.” [13:13]

Prince Alwaleed praises Musk’s leadership and foresight, particularly in transforming the media landscape:

“X is really the number one [media organization]. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression... gave it the forum to be the anchor of the new media in the world.” [15:14]

He anticipates substantial growth and valuation increases for these investments:

“I believe the actual value is more than double...” [14:38]

4. Artificial Intelligence and DeepSeek

Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as another pivotal topic. Prince Alwaleed shares his optimistic outlook on AI’s potential benefits while acknowledging risks.

He underscores AI’s transformative impact across various sectors:

“Artificial intelligence is going to play a big role in evolution in the whole, in the social industry, in the economics, politics, economics, finance, et cetera.” [21:56]

Discussing specific projects like DeepSeek, he remains cautiously optimistic:

“We are invested with them in the first round and second round, we’re backing them all the way...” [34:08]

Prince Alwaleed addresses concerns about AI’s energy consumption and the future of renewable energy, suggesting a balanced approach:

“With the Trump election, the green revolution now has diminished a little bit... but we are still heavily invested in non-carbon energy.” [35:11]

5. Trade Policies: Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China

The conversation delves into Trump’s trade policies, particularly tariffs imposed on Canada, Mexico, and China.

Prince Alwaleed analyzes the immediate negative impact on the auto industry:

“The instantaneous reflection on that was very Negative... the auto industry was devastated.” [31:28]

He speculates that tariffs may serve as negotiation tools rather than permanent measures:

“Possibly. Possibly. But the 25% tariffs... are pretty high.” [31:28]

Discussing China's response, he notes the different strategic postures compared to North American neighbors:

“China, Xi Jinping did not really answer... it's a completely different ballgame.” [32:14]

6. Energy Policies and Western Europe’s Stability

Energy policy and Western Europe’s economic stability are scrutinized, with Prince Alwaleed offering a critical perspective on the region.

He contends that Western Europe faces significant challenges, including energy shortages:

“They don’t have enough energy to have first world economies.” [27:35]

However, he remains confident in the resilience of the Arab world’s energy supply:

“They will always find a way to find gas... the Arab world also did help a lot in supplying the Western Europe with gas.” [28:06]

Prince Alwaleed criticizes Western Europe’s bureaucratic inefficiencies, predicting potential political upheavals:

“They need to wake up so fast and do some quick remedies to their economical policies.” [29:31]

7. International Relations: U.S. and Venezuela

The episode touches upon the evolving relationship between the United States and Venezuela, especially in the context of oil reserves.

Prince Alwaleed observes recent diplomatic gestures, such as the return of hostages and immigration:

“He was very welcoming and he welcomed getting back all the immigrants.” [36:22]

He speculates on the potential for significant energy deals, though acknowledging infrastructural challenges in Venezuela:

“They cannot produce more than 3 million barrels... over time.” [36:49]

8. Monarchies vs. Republics in the Middle East

A comparative analysis of governance systems follows, with Prince Alwaleed advocating for monarchies over republics in achieving stability.

He lauds the legitimacy and public support of Saudi Arabia’s monarchy:

“If you go to the public here and rate Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, he will get 70 to 80%, if not 90% approval rating.” [50:14]

Contrasting this with the turmoil in republican systems like Iraq, he argues that monarchies provide the desired stability and continuity:

“We have monarchies... these are eight monarchies... look how good they’re doing.” [51:56]

9. Cryptocurrency and Gold Investments

Prince Alwaleed addresses modern investment avenues, expressing skepticism towards cryptocurrency while maintaining a modest portfolio in gold.

He dismisses crypto as unregulated and too volatile:

“We are not investing in crypto at all. We never will.” [52:39]

Regarding gold, he acknowledges its role but notes it’s not a priority:

“We do have some small portfolio of gold, but nothing major.” [55:12]

10. Social Reforms in Saudi Arabia

The discussion culminates with Prince Alwaleed highlighting the significant social reforms underway in Saudi Arabia, particularly concerning women’s rights.

He praises the inclusion of women in the workforce and the removal of guardianship laws:

“Women became incorporated in the society. Equal opportunity women can thrive now.” [55:12]

Prince Alwaleed emphasizes a balanced approach to modernization, respecting cultural and religious norms:

“If you do everything within the law, within the legal system, it’s acceptable.” [57:00]

Conclusion

Throughout the episode, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal provides a nuanced perspective on global politics, economics, and social reforms, rooted in his extensive experience as a leading international investor and member of Saudi Arabia’s royal family. His insights shed light on the intricate interplay between U.S. policies, Middle Eastern stability, media influence, and emerging technologies like AI. The conversation underscores the complexities of navigating global alliances, economic strategies, and societal transformations in an ever-evolving geopolitical landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• “With the Trump administration coming very forcefully... I am optimistic, cautiously optimistic.” [00:51]

• “Iran always plants the seeds of trouble, chaos, and confusion wherever they are.” [04:37]

• “X is really the number one [media organization]. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression... gave it the forum to be the anchor of the new media in the world.” [15:14]

• “Artificial intelligence is going to play a big role in evolution in the whole, in the social industry, in the economics, politics, economics, finance, et cetera.” [21:56]

• “We are sometimes contrarian and successfully.” [43:11]

• “We have monarchies... these are eight monarchies... look how good they’re doing.” [51:56]

• “Women became incorporated in the society. Equal opportunity women can thrive now.” [55:12]

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for listeners who may not have had the opportunity to tune in.