From Jack Jodell at The Saturday Afternoon Post:
One of the most encoraging signs was how earlier this year, he became the first senior Saudi royal to publicly state his support for an Israeli homeland, even though his government does not as of yet officially recognize the state of Israel. When White House “adviser” Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump visited his country in May of 2017, he met with them and has generally spoken in favor of strengthening ties with the U.S. He was given control of Saudi Aramco by royal decree in 2015, and was named Chair of the Council for Economic and Developmental Affairs that same year. Additionally, through his efforts, it is now possible for Saudi women to legally drive automobiles by themselves, as he has been instrumental in rolling back the power of the Saudi religious conservatives.
The Prince has taken leadership over restructuring his country’s economy. In 2016, he introduced Vision 2030, a group designed to help it strategically plan for the next 12 years or so. Its aim is to develop more diversification and especially to strengthen non-oil companies and those involved with systaubable fields and the creation of a $500 billion economic zone across thousands of miles of Saudi territory next to the Red Sea. He has also been pioneering Saudi investment in renewable energy. The prince has been described as both a nationalist and an economic populist – and that is perhaps why Donald Trump has been so warm to him. Regrettably, and also much like Trump, he has revealed himself to be a bit of a thug.