Guards mounted on horses greeted President Obama’s motorcade as he arrived at the ranch of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia earlier today. Pool reporter Christi Parsons described a long driveway, and a palatial meeting room where Obama and King Abdullah sat down in arm chairs under a portrait of King Abdul Aziz al Saud to chat. The king placed around Obama’s neck a large gold medallion, which he wore for a few photos and handed off for “safekeeping.” Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau and Reggie Love, the president’s body man, were on hand, as were several Saudi ministers in white robes and red-checked ghutra.

Obama and King Abdullah made a few brief remarks as they went into a smaller meeting at the ranch. Obama said that before he arrives for Thursday’s speech in Cairo, “I thought it was very important to come to the place where Islam began and to seek his majesty’s counsel.” The king expressed his “best wishes to the friendly American people who are represented by a distinguished man who deserves to be in this position."