What's Happening Tomorrow

President Joe Biden will continue meeting with world leaders while in Saudi Arabia this weekend.

On Saturday, Biden will participate in "bilateral engagements with the leadership of Egypt, the UAE, and Iraq," after which he will be part of the GCC+3 Summit, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters on Friday. At the summit, Biden will "lay out clearly and substantively his vision and his strategy for America's engagement in the Middle East."

Biden is "intent on ensuring that there is not a vacuum in the Middle East for China and Russia to fill, that American leadership and an American engagement will be a feature of U.S. policy in this region, and that we intend to play a critical role in this strategically vital region on an ongoing basis," Sullivan said.

"He will cover the waterfront in both his bilateral and multilateral engagements, from security to economics, to regional integration, to cooperation on the big global challenges of our time, to human rights and forcefully advocating for America's values and for the President's personal priorities," Sullivan added.

Biden also commented on his plans to discuss America's future in the Middle East during public remarks delivered from Saudi Arabia Friday evening.

"The bottom line is, this trip is about once again positioning America in this region for the future," Biden said. "We are not going to leave a vacuum in the Middle East for Russia or China to fill. And we're getting results."

Biden Does Not Regret Calling Saudi Arabia a 'Pariah'

President Joe Biden said he does not regret calling Saudi Arabia a "pariah."

During his 2020 presidential campaign, Biden pledged that his administration would seek to make Saudi Arabia "the pariah that they are" and signaled that "they have to be held accountable" for human rights violations, including the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Biden also promised to end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen and "make sure America does not check its values at the door to sell arms or buy oil."

After meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday, Biden was asked if he regrets calling the Saudi's a pariah state.

"I don't regret anything I said," Biden answered, indicating that he still feels that way.

Fiancée of Khashoggi Blasts Biden Over Fist Bump

The fiancée of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi slammed President Joe Biden for meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) Friday.

Hatice Cengiz tweeted a screenshot of what appears to be a fake tweet form Khashoggi, saying "what Jamal Khashoggi would tweet today."

The tweet shows the moment Biden fist bumped MBS.

"Is this the accountability you promised for my murder?," the fake tweet read. "The blood of MBS' next victim is on your hands."

During a press conference following his meeting with MBS, Biden said he was "sorry [Cengiz] feels that way."

"I was straightforward back then. I was straightforward today," he said

Biden added that he didn't come to Saudi Arabia to meet the crown prince, he came for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations "to deal with the security and the needs of the free world, particularly the United States."

Cengiz then made a series of tweets of photos of Western leaders with MBS, including Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron.

"Under the recent developments, regardless of how disappointing it might seem, I have a strong belief that justice will prevail. Eventually, it always does," she wrote.

"Our fight for justice is beyond the scope of particular individuals; even though we terribly try to tackle injustice that has been done and carried out by them, our struggle will proceed until it has thrived."

Cengiz said her fight represents all who have faced injustice, brutality and exile by authoritarian regimes.

"Our voice will be heard despite how loud they shout and how hard they silenced the sound of truth," she said.

Biden Expects Gas Price Impact in a 'Couple Weeks'

President Joe Biden told reporters on Friday that he expects his recent meeting with leaders in Saudi Arabia to impact gas prices in the U.S. in "another couple weeks."

Following a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday, Biden said they had a "good discussion" on "ensuring global energy security and adequate oil supplies to support global economic growth," which he said will "begin shortly." Biden added that Saudi leaders "shared that urgency."

"I'm doing all I can to increase the supply for the United States of America, which I expect to happen," the president said during a press conference late Friday.

Gas prices in the U.S. have hit record highs over the last few months, though they have begun declining in recent weeks. During public remarks delivered Friday evening in Saudi Arabia, Biden said gas prices have "already been coming down."

"They've been coming down every single day, to the best of my knowledge," he said.

When Biden was asked when Americans can expect an impact on gas prices as a result of his meetings in Saudi Arabia, the president said it won't happen right away.

"I suspect you won't see that for another couple weeks," he said. "We'll see more when we see gas stations start to lower their price consistent with what they're paying for the oil."

Biden Laughs Over Criticism of Fist Bump

President Joe Biden has received a lot of criticism for his fist bump with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

During a press conference late Friday, a reporter told Biden that he was coming under a lot of fire for the greeting, Biden responded with a laugh.

The reporter then asked how he can be sure that another murder like the one of Jamal Khashoggi won't happen again.

"God love you, what a silly question," he said. "How can I possibly be sure of any of that?"

Biden said he made clear to the Saudi leaders that if anything like Khashoggi's murder happens again, "they will get that response and much more."

He added that as the President of the United States, he cannot stay silent on human rights violations, noting when he called out China for their human rights atrocities.

Biden said he won't remain silent on human rights violations but added that he cannot predict what human rights violations will occur around the world.

The Publisher and CEO of the Washington Post released a statement after Biden's poorly-received fist bump with the Saudi prince.

"The fist bump between President Biden and Mohammed bin Salman was worse than a handshake—it was shameful," Fred Ryan said. "It projected a level of intimacy and comfort that delivers to MBS the unwarranted redemption he has been desperately seeking."

Biden Was 'Direct' With Saudi Prince About Khashoggi

President Joe Biden said he raised the murder of Washington Post Journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the top of his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) on Friday.

He said he was "straightforward and direct" with the prince and made clear what he thought of the killing at the time and what he thinks of it now.

Biden said he was "crystal clear" and told MBS, "for an American president to be silent on an issue of human rights is inconsistent with who we are and who I am."

"I'll always stand up for our values," Biden said during a press conference late Friday.

Biden said he indicated that he believed MBS was responsible for the killing, but the prince denied he was personal involved and took action against those who were responsible.

OPEC+ Will Increase Oil Production

President Joe Biden's meeting with Saudi leaders is not expected to yield any plans to increase global oil production.

Rather, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said further action on that issue will depend on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (OPEC+).

OPEC+ is a group of the largest oil-producing countries in the world. The group controls oil production, regulation and impacts global oil prices.

Ahead of President Biden's trip to Saudi Arabia, OPEC+ announced it would accelerate and increase oil production.

Sullivan said the U.S. delegation will discuss the issue of increasing oil production during talks with Saudi leaders.

"We are hopeful that we will see additional actions by OPEC+ in the coming weeks," Sullivan told the press on Air Force One Friday.

Sullivan said the progress on the energy question will be measured over the course of weeks.

"That has been our plan going in. That is our plan on this plane. That will be our plan coming out," he said.

A bilateral plan between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia on increasing the production of oil likely won't come after the meeting tonight, Sullivan said.

"I don't think you should expect a particular announcement here bilaterally because we believe any further action taken to ensure that there is sufficient energy to protect the health of the global economy will be done in the context of OPEC+," he said.

Watch Biden Deliver Remarks

President Joe Biden will soon deliver remarks live from Saudi Arabia.

On Friday afternoon, reporters were told Biden would be speaking live from Saudi Arabia at about 3:30 p.m. ET. His comments will be streamed live on the White House's YouTube channel.

Biden arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia earlier Friday. He was greeted by the crown prince when he arrived at the Al-Salam Palace, and he shortly thereafter met with Saudi King Salman. Biden later had a meeting with the crown prince, during which he was expected to discuss the global energy supply.

U.S. Average Gas Price at $4.58 Amid Oil Talks

The national average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the U.S. was at $4.58 on Friday as President Joe Biden discussed oil supplies with leaders in Saudi Arabia.

After months of setting new records across the U.S., gas prices began dropping last month. The current national average price of $4.58 per gallon was nearly 44 cents lower than the new national average record set in mid-June, according to the American Automobile Administration (AAA).

Though lower than prices last month, the national average gas price as of Friday was about 46 cents higher than the previous U.S. record set in 2008, which held until this spring. The national average price change between Thursday and Friday represented the biggest single-day drop since the 2008 recession, according to Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

While some states have seen significant drops in gas prices over the last month—11 states have experienced statewide average price drops exceeding 50 cents, according to De Haan—the statewide average price was hovering just below $6 per gallon in California, the state that typically has the highest gas prices in the nation.

While meeting with the crown prince on Friday, Biden was expected to "discuss energy security," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters as Biden traveled on Air Force One to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Sullivan pointed to a recent announcement from OPEC about boosting oil production and said the administration is "hopeful" OPEC will take "additional actions" in the weeks ahead.

Americans should not "expect a particular announcement" between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, Sullivan added, "because we believe any further action taken to ensure that there is sufficient energy to protect the health of the global economy will be done in the context of OPEC+."

Biden Calls Out Oil Companies to Do More

President Joe Biden calls on gas and oil companies to do more to ease high gas prices in the U.S.

While in a meeting with Saudi Arabian officials, Biden tweeted that the price of oil has fallen 20 percent since mid-June. But the price of gas at the pump has only dropped half as much.

"Oil and gas companies must not use this moment as an excuse for profiting by not passing along savings at the pump," he tweeted Friday.

Biden said he would discuss the global oil supply with Saudi leaders during the last leg of his historic trip to the Middle East.

Republicans Blast Biden for 'Begging' Saudi's for Oil

Several Republicans are calling President Biden's trip to Saudi Arabia an insult to American energy workers.

Biden's trip to one of the world's top oil producers comes as Americans are continuing to face high prices at the gas pump.

New Jersey Representative Jeff Van Drew called on Biden to drill in the U.S. instead of "begging" Saudi Arabia for oil.

"President Biden fist bumps the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia while turning his back on America's energy industry," Representative Jerry Carl of Alabama said in a tweet.

Representative Michael Cloud of Texas called Biden's fist bump with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "a slap in the face for Texas oil and gas workers."

Florida Congressman Carlos Gimenez said Biden puts "dictators first and America last."

"He should be unleashing America's energy production right here at home, not making us more dependent on Saudi Arabia," he said in a tweet.

Democratic Representative Adam Schiff of California also criticized Biden's meeting with Salman.

"If we ever needed a visual reminder of the continuing grip oil-rich autocrats have on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, we got it today," he said in a tweet. "One fist bump is worth a thousand words."

Leaders Meet at Al-Salam Palace

President Joe Biden met with Saudi Arabia's king and crown prince on Friday shortly after arriving in the country.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and official news agency shared photos and videos from the leaders' meeting on Twitter. The crown prince first received Biden at the Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, where the two fist-bumped in greeting.

The Saudi Press Agency shared a video of Biden walking into the palace, where he then shook King Salman's hand.

The foreign ministry added photos of the two leaders sitting and talking together.

Another video from the Saudi Gazette showed Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman holding a meeting with Biden and other U.S. officials.

The foreign ministry later shared a highlight reel of what it described as "solid historical relations" between the two countries. The reel featured photos of U.S. and Saudi leaders meeting over the years.

Dr. Oz Says Biden Is 'Begging' for Oil

Dr. Mehmet Oz criticized President Joe Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia on Friday and suggested Biden will "beg for oil" as a result of his own "war waged on American energy."

Oz, a television personality who is campaigning to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate as a Republican, shared a campaign ad on social media that focused on Biden's trip to the Middle East.

"As soon as Joe Biden entered the White House, he started waging war on American energy production," Oz said in the ad. "Instead of acknowledging his mistakes and reopening domestic energy production, Biden is in Saudi Arabia, begging them for oil. Why on earth would he go all that way to ask the Saudi prince for his oil when we have abundant energy resources right here in Pennsylvania and America?"

Oz went on to say the U.S. has "more natural gas right here under our feet than we could use in hundreds of years."

To have Biden "pleading for Saudi Arabian oil is a slap in the face to Pennsylvanians," Oz said.

Oz's ad continued by saying his campaign is "all in" on energy independence in the U.S., an "all of the above" approach to America's energy portfolio, and on "putting Americans first."

In a tweet accompanying the ad, Oz again criticized the president's trip by pointing to "skyrocketing" gas prices. National and state average gas prices have hit new records in recent months, including in Pennsylvania. The statewide average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Pennsylvania on Friday was $4.72, about 35 cents below the new statewide average price recorded last month.

"While Pennsylvanians face skyrocketing gas prices, Biden traveled to Saudi Arabia to beg for oil in an effort to alleviate the consequences of his war waged on American energy," Oz's tweet said. "This is wrong."

U.S. Pledges $100M for East Jerusalem Hospitals

President Joe Biden on Friday said the U.S. is pledging an additional $100 million in support of a hospital system in East Jerusalem.

Biden announced the contribution to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network (EJHN) while speaking at the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem Friday. The U.S. has previously supported the EJHN with $85 million in the years since 2014, Biden said.

The money is "part of our commitment to support health and dignity of to the Palestinian people," Biden said.

The president began his remarks at the Augusta Victoria Hospital by noting that First Lady Jill Biden has visited the hospital network twice before, once in 2010 and again in 2016. Biden said he was "honored to be able to see firsthand the service and the quality of care" that the hospital system provides.

The President shared some of the experiences he and his family have had over the years with doctors and nurses. While doctors save lives, nurses make patients "want to live" and have "made a difference in my life," Biden said.

In East Jerusalem, the EJHN "are the backbone of the Palestinian healthcare system," Biden said. "People turn to you in their moment of need, as you well know, with their children who are sick, with a loved one who's injured."

The $100 million the U.S. is committing to support the EJHN's efforts will be a "multiyear commitment in both resources and expertise," and "hopefully" will "generate other large contributions from other countries," Biden said. He acknowledged that the United Arab Emirates also recently pledged $25 million to the EJHN.

According to a White House fact sheet, the EJHN is comprised of six hospitals with "specialized services," which include "oncology, dialysis, neo-natal intensive care, and specialized maternity, ophthalmology, and emergency services." An estimated 50,000 patients from East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank are treated annually, the fact sheet said.

The U.S. contribution Biden announced on Friday requires congressional approval, after which it will be funded through the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Biden Fist Bumps Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman

After arriving in Saudi Arabia for the first time as president, Joe Biden went straight to the Al Salam Royal Palace.

Biden was received by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salam.

There was speculation ahead of this trip if Biden would shake the prince's hand. When he arrived at the palace, Biden and Salman engaged in a fist bump before heading inside for their closed-door meeting.

Biden Makes Historic Arrival

President Joe Biden makes his historical arrival in Saudi Arabia Friday.

This is Biden's first trip to Saudi Arabia as president. He was also the first U.S. president to fly from Jerusalem to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after the Saudi's opened the airspace to "all carriers."

Biden was greeted by Makkah governor Prince Khalid Al Faisal and Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the U.S. Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud as he exited Air Force One.

Biden Stops Short of Promising to Discuss Khashoggi

President Joe Biden has not confirmed whether he will mention the murder of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khasoggi during his meeting with the Saudi Arabia crown prince.

"I always bring up human rights," Biden said during a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid Thursday. "But my position on Khashoggi has been so clear. If anyone doesn't understand it, in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else, then they haven't been around for a while."

Biden said the intention of this trip is to reassert the United States' influence in the Middle East.

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Air Force One Friday that Biden wants the U.S. to be a leader in the Middle East and ensure there is no vacuum in the region for Russia or China to fill in.

Sullivan also said Biden has not commented on mentioning Khashoggi because he does not like to preview points he will raise in these crucial diplomatic meetings.

Biden always raises the issue of human rights, Sullivan said, and "that is no different on this trip."

The issue of human rights will be on the agenda, Sullivan said, adding that Biden will be candid, direct and straightforward.

Khashoggi's finacee, Hatice Cengiz, said that Biden is backing down on human rights by visiting Saudi Arabia.

"It's a very huge backing down actually," Cengiz told the Associated Press. "It's heartbreaking and disappointing. And Biden will lose his moral authority by putting oil and expediency over principles and values."

WATCH: Biden Lands in Saudi Arabia

President Joe Biden has landed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Air Force One touched down at the King Abdulaziz International Airport early Friday evening, local time. Biden is the first U.S. president to fly directly from Israel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Biden to Discuss Oil, Human Rights With Saudi Prince

President will soon meet with leaders in Saudi Arabia, including the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

After meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Biden will arrive in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia soon. He will meet with Saudi King Salman and his son, along with other Saudi leaders.

This highly-anticipated meeting comes amid human rights controversies.

As a presidential candidate, Biden vowed to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" state for their poor human rights record.

This comes after U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a vocal critic of the Saudi kingdom, was killed in 2018. U.S. intelligence believes Mohammed bin Salman was responsible for the ordering the killing of the Washington Post journalist in Turkey.

Biden was asked if he will shake Prince Mohammed's hand. White House officials said Biden is "focused on the meetings, not the greetings."

While he would not provide details about what he plans to discuss in these meetings, Biden said human rights remain a priority.

The Human Rights Foundation wrote Biden a letter last month urging him to cancel his visit to Saudi Arabia.

Biden is also expected to discuss the global oil supply and the possibility of increasing production amid a a surge in energy and gas prices in the U.S. and around the world.

Biden to Continue Sending Aid to Palestine

President Joe Biden met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Friday before leaving for Saudi Arabia.

During their meeting, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution with Israel and highlighted the importance of direct negotiations to ensure an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel with "both enjoying secure and recognized borders, allowing the two peoples to live side-by-side in peace and security."

Biden said the two leaders count themselves among the earliest supporters of a two-state solution.

"As I stand with you today, now as President of the United States, my commitment to that goal of a two-state solution has not changed in all these years," Biden said.

He said the Palestinian people deserve their own "independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous" state separate from Israel.

"Both states fully respecting the equal rights of the other citizens. Both peoples enjoying equal measure of freedom and dignity. That's what this is fundamentally all about."

President Abbas said he is committed to maintaining peace in the region and renouncing violence and terrorism in the region and the world.

"We look forward to the efforts of your administration to turn the page on the Israeli occupation of our land and the acts of racial discrimination, apartheid against our people; and to stop unilateral actions that undermine the two-state solution," Abbas said.

But he told Biden that Israel "cannot continue to act as a state above law. That begins, he said, will the end of Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and the establishment of East Jerusalem as Palestine's capital.

"Only then, Israel will be accepted to live in peace, security, and good neighborhood with the countries and peoples of the region based on the Arab Peace Initiative," he said. "The opportunity for the two-state solution on the 1967 borders may be available today only, but we don't know what will happen later."

Biden reiterated that every person has the right to be treated with dignity and that all parties in the region must work towards peace.

"So even if the ground is not ripe at this moment to restart negotiations, the United States and my administration will not give up on trying to bring the Palestinians and Israelis and both sides closer together," he said.

He said the United States can feel how the Palestinians are "hurting."

"You can just feel it, your grief and frustration," he said.

Biden promised to continue to send economic and humanitarian aid to Palestine to "to strengthen Palestinian institutions, to improve governance, transparency, and accountability."

He said he reversed the policies of his predecessor to resume aid to the Palestinians, noting his administration has given more than half a billion dollars since 2021.

This includes more than $400 million in humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

"And today, I'm announcing the United States is going to provide an additional $200 million to the UNRWA so it can continue its vital work of helping the most vulnerable Palestinians, especially Palestinian children," Biden said.

Biden also noted the losses suffered by both Israeli and Palestinians over the past year and mentioned the killing of American journalist Shireen Abu Alkeh.

"She was an American citizen and a proud Palestinian and she was performing very vital work on an independent media and vital work of democracy," he said. "Her death is an enormous loss to the essential work of sharing with the world the story of the Palestinian people. I hope that her legacy — her legacy will inspire more young people to carry on her work of reporting the truth and telling stories that are too often overlooked."

He said the U.S. will continue to insist on a "full and transparent accounting of her death."

Biden is First U.S. President to Fly From Israel to Saudi Arabia

President Joe Biden will be the first U.S. president to fly directly from Israel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

This comes after Saudi Arabia announced Thursday that it will open its airspace to "all carriers" ahead of Biden's trip.

Biden said this "historic" decision to open the airspace to all civilian planes, include those flying to and from Israel, is "an important step towards building a more integrated and stable Middle East region."

"As we mark this important moment, Saudi Arabia's decision can help build momentum toward Israel's further integration into the region, including with Saudi Arabia," Biden said in a statement. "I will do all that I can, through direct diplomacy and leader-to-leader engagement, to keep advancing this groundbreaking process."

He credits this decision to "months of steady diplomacy" between his administration and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said "the decision to open the Kingdom's airspace for all air carriers that meet the requirements of the authority for overflying."