Trump’s Secret Camp David Talks: Why Saudi Arabia Is Preparing to Fight Houthis

President Donald Trump’s top national security aides met secretly at Camp David on Friday to discuss the Iran war and the escalating Saudi-Houthi conflict in Yemen, according to three U.S. officials cited by Axios. The White House didn’t publicly announce the meeting.

Vice President JD Vance chaired the session, which included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, Axios reported.

“Things were decided or at least deeply discussed,” one official told Axios, referring to the crisis in the Middle East.

The gathering was notable because a similar unannounced Camp David meeting took place in June 2025, shortly before Israel went to war with Iran.

Iran Talks Remain Stalled

The Camp David meeting came as U.S.-Iran diplomacy remained stalled and Trump weighed whether to resume major combat operations against Tehran.

“Now I have to make a decision: either Iran signs the deal, or it won’t exist any longer,” Trump said Thursday.

Trump also told reporters Friday that Iran “is not doing well.” He had previously indicated that he could resume strikes after early November’s U.S. midterm elections if there is no agreement.

Trump has also said the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is “unbelievably weak” and on “massive life support,” and called Tehran’s new counter-proposal “a piece of garbage.”

The ceasefire started in April 2026, but has been violated on numerous occasions. In response to Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump announced the ceasefire and peace process were effectively dead in July when U.S. forces attacked Iranian military bases.

Saudi Arabia Prepares Houthi Offensive

Saudi Arabia is also readying a large-scale military push against the Houthis in Yemen that would allow it to retake territory along the Red Sea coast and gain control of the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The operation is set to be larger than the previous one, with over 100,000 Yemeni ground troops and Saudi air force aid.

The Houthis, who have seized large swathes of territory on Yemen’s western coast, now control one of the world’s strategic water straits that connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The route is crucial in the world of energy and commercial shipping.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had earlier requested Washington’s direct military intervention against the Houthis. The U.S. didn’t strike, but agreed to give intelligence and targeting support.

While U.S. officials suggested that might change based on events, Washington remains unmoved to join the Saudi offensive directly for now.

Riyadh Warns Houthis

Saudi officials have increasingly warned that Riyadh is prepared to respond to attacks as Houthi strikes have intensified.

Speaking at a joint news conference in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the Houthis had “opened a Pandora’s box” and said the Kingdom would use available means to defend its interests. Saudi reporting also said he maintained that the diplomatic path remained open.

“Saudi Arabia will not hesitate to support what serves the interests of Yemen and the region,” Faisal bin Farhan said. He accused the Houthis of resorting to violence “whenever they find themselves in a difficult position” and of trying to export internal problems to Saudi Arabia. He added that the diplomatic path remained open.

The Saudi foreign minister later traveled to Washington for talks with Rubio. The discussions covered regional security and other issues, while Riyadh continued pressing for international action to protect shipping.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have also been coordinating under a defense agreement that provides for consultation when a member faces an attack. The three countries planned an emergency meeting of their military chiefs amid the Houthi escalation.

Houthis Expand Reach Along Red Sea

The Houthis’ progress has thrown Yemen’s military balance on the western Red Sea coast into a new equilibrium and raised the alarm over access to the Bab el-Mandeb.

The Houthis seized control of Yemen’s western coast and were granted a never-before-seen access to the strait. Attacks by the group have also increased against Saudi territory and energy infrastructure, with Saudi troops retaliating by striking back.

Houthi forces have seized control of important islands and coastal regions near the Bab el-Mandeb in September. The advances have put pressure on Saudi Arabia and raised concerns about disruption of one of the world’s major shipping lanes.

Escalation has also led to diplomatic contacts. U.S. officials met with Houthis in Oman in September, and the Houthis spoke with U.S. officials via mediators that they would not target American shipping, Reuters reported.

The Camp David summit involved high-level U.S. officials as the administration faces two related but separate military issues: restarting major U.S. operations against Iran and the degree to which the U.S. will support Saudi Arabia in its fight against the Houthis.

The administration hasn’t confirmed any decisions after the meeting. The U.S. support for the Saudi attack on the Houthis is still not clear, and Riyadh is preparing for an attack to roll back the Houthis’ advances near Bab el-Mandeb.