Saudi billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal told CNBC on Thursday he's optimistic about the U.S. economy after the surprise election of Donald Trump, saying the president-elect would likely be different in office than as a candidate.
"There's no excuse at all for the Republican Party, which is dominant in the United States, to not deliver this growth that is expected from them," Alwaleed said in a telephone interview with "Squawk on the Street."
Not only did Trump win the presidential election, but his party maintained majorities in both chambers of Congress.
"One of the concerns that world leaders have against — I emphasize candidate Trump, not president Trump — is that they were not sure about his commitment to all of the international treaties that he had," the Saudi billionaire said.
Alwaleed said his more optimistic take on Trump was based partly on a more conciliatory tone from the president-elect since the election, which he said includes Trump's removal of some online commentary against Muslim immigration.
Despite past tensions, Alwaleed tweeted an olive branch to Trump on Wednesday morning.
That's in sharp contrast to last year's Twitter war, in which Alwaleed had called Trump a "disgrace" and urged the GOP candidate to quit the race.
Responding at the time, Trump had tweeted: "Dopey Prince" Alwaleed wants to control U.S. politicians with his father's money. "Can't do it when I get elected," he continued.
On CNBC Thursday, the Saudi billionaire said, "I don't regret" that December tweet.
Alwaleed is chairman of Kingdom Holding, whose top investments include Twitter, Time Warner, Citi, Apple and eBay, according to the firm's website.