President Trump is welcomed by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, second from left, upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on May 20, 2017, followed by First Lady Melania Trump.

Last year, Mr. Obama visited Saudi Arabia for meetings with King Salman and gulf leaders, but the king did not meet him on the airport’s tarmac. Mr. Obama’s aides later played down the king’s decision, but it was broadly portrayed in news accounts as a snub.

At the airport when he arrived, Mr. Trump and the king exchanged a brief handshake and a few pleasantries.

“Very happy to see you,” the king said.

“It’s a great honor,” Mr. Trump replied, before he was offered a bouquet of flowers from Saudi