US President Donald Trump has stated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman knew nothing about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, during a recent welcoming meeting at the White House. Trump's defense of the crown prince contradicts a US intelligence assessment released in 2021 that reported the crown prince had approved the operation leading to Khashoggi’s death at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
During the meeting, the crown prince insisted that Saudi Arabia had taken the necessary steps to investigate Khashoggi's death, which has severely impacted US-Saudi relations. This visit marked his first to the US since the assassination, which has been a symbol of the fraught relationship.
When pressed about Khashoggi's murder, Trump remarked to a reporter: You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. He emphasized that the crown prince was unaware of the circumstances surrounding the incident, suggesting that the inquiry into Khashoggi’s death had been addressed adequately by Saudi officials.
The tension surrounding Khashoggi's murder remains significant, with the journalist's widow, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, publicly calling for an apology and compensation from the crown prince. Her statements, shared on social media, echo ongoing international demands for accountability and justice linked to the assassination.
In addition to addressing the Khashoggi matter, Trump and Mohammed bin Salman discussed potential agreements on civilian nuclear power, artificial intelligence, and increased Saudi investment in the US, projected to rise from $600 billion to $1 trillion. They also touched on the potential sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a deal that raises concerns among Israeli officials about the military balance in the region. As the crown prince concluded his visit, the two leaders were expected to participate in various events, including a state gala dinner.
The backdrop of this meeting is notable as President Biden has previously labeled Saudi Arabia a pariah due to its human rights violations. However, his administration did engage with the kingdom in subsequent negotiations, reflecting the complex nature of US-Saudi relations.
