Will Trump Address Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia?

As President Donald Trump goes on his first state visit in his second term to Saudi Arabia, the focus is on making fair and equitable trade deals with the Saudis, which will benefit both Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and an overall peace in the Middle East is also high on Trump's priority list. Economically, the Saudis appear to be on board with Trump's vision for the region. But there is one other topic that we have not heard much about, but that perhaps Trump will address with the Saudis, and that is the rights of women in Saudi Arabia.

It's surreal. Saudi Arabia enslaves women under a “male guardianship” regime that was recently enshrined into law.

Let me be clear: Electing Saudi Arabia as global chair of protecting women's rights is like putting Dracula in charge of the blood bank. https://t.co/DwbhNO3Wh8
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) March 11, 2025

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has positioned himself as a reformer in the Islamic nation. But last month, the United Nations awarded the presidency of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) to Saudi Arabia, something that brought much criticism and cries of hypocrisy. While bin Salman has implemented some reforms, life for Saudi women is far from idyllic, and they still lack many freedoms other women around the world take for granted.

One of the biggest changes for Saudi women in recent years is being allowed to drive, which was granted in 2018. Some other changes in Saudi society for women: In 2019, restrictions on travel and obtaining passports were also lessened. Women 21 years of age and older can now leave the country without the permission of a male guardian. And in 2021, women were allowed to make the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca for Hajj, without any males accompanying them if they were with other women.

However, the one overarching concept for Saudi women has been male guardianship. Be it her father, brother, husband, sons, or uncles, every woman is required to have a male guardian to make decisions for her. From everything from healthcare, education, employment, to pregnancy and birth, women were under the thumb of a guardian. Since reforms to the Personal State Laws (PSL) in 2022, women over 21 no longer need a guardian's approval in these areas.

Increased rights for women in Saudi Arabia is not about women's rights, it's about economicshttps://t.co/syQLuSe0hu
— The Parasite Class (@TrickFreee) May 8, 2025

But even with those changes, the rights of women in critical areas are still denied, such as getting married, getting divorced, or leaving an institution such as a prison or domestic abuse shelter. Other changes have included relaxed clothing requirements and personal data being used to monitor and control the movement of women. Going to places like concerts, the movies, and sporting events without a male present is also now allowed. All Saudis now control their personal information, but there is still widespread censorship and surveillance throughout Saudi society.

So, how far can Donald Trump push bin Salman in the area of human rights, especially when it comes to the treatment of women? Right now, Trump could conceivably ask for human rights concessions, as his trip is all about economics for the Saudis. As my colleague, Nick Arama, reported, the Saudis pulled out all the stops for Trump. They know that having a slice of the American market is vital. Deals worth billions of dollars were made that could potentially lead to millions of American jobs.

ALSO READ: Saudi Arabia Rolls Out the Red Carpet to Honor Trump, With Big Benefits for America From Deals

There have been many changes in the lives of Saudi women since Donald Trump last visited, but much more can still be done. If a thriving Saudi economy, due in part to trade deals with the U.S., can bring that about in some way, more freedom for Saudi women could be on the way.

🇸🇦🤝🇺🇸

Donald Trump shakes hands with female Saudi officials while joking during his visit to Saudi Arabia:#BreakingNews #Trump #TrumpinRiyadh pic.twitter.com/s6HXPzVtb2
— FELNews (@FELNewsTR) May 13, 2025

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