Trump may or may not have known about it. Either way. Trump went to Saudi Arabia on his very first diplomatic trip with all his key people.
Meaning he likely said something to them that was a game changer for them. He also implied that in his public speech saying this is a start of a new relationship.
I would suggest Trump told them to clean up their act or he will do it for them.
this entire kerfuffle looks like inside baseball,or inthis case as the kingdom turns style soap opera with the younger heir strutting his stuff and getting away with it.