FNA - A leading Arab newspaper blasted the Saudi officials' silence on the insulting remarks by US President Donald Trump, noting that it was a big slap at Riyadh and showed Iran's power.

Trump told supporters Tuesday that Saudi Arabia and its King would not last "two weeks" in power without American military support and appeared to call on the country to pay more for its own defense, the Arabic-language al-Ray al-Youm reported on Saturday.


"We protect Saudi Arabia. Would you say they're rich? And I love the King ... King Salman but I said 'King, we're protecting you. You might not be there for two weeks without us. You have to pay for your military," Trump said.


The newspaper wrote that international observers are surprised at Riyadh's continued silence on Trump's insulting comments.


It added that the US president's remarks are considered as a slap across the face of the Saudi army and admission of Iran's hegemony and power.


Trump's first official overseas trip as President was to Saudi Arabia, where he gave a speech to scores of Muslim leaders.


During that trip, Trump signed a nearly $110 billion defense deal with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, which signaled a renewed US commitment to its alliance with Saudi Arabia. Then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the deal was part of a $350 billion package of economic and defense investments between the two countries over the next 10 years.


The Trump administration has also defended Saudi Arabia's involvement in the war in Yemen which has killed over 17,500 Yemeni people, despite�repeated criticism from the United Nations and international rights groups.