Trump Defends Saudi Crown Prince Over Khashoggi Killing

DID Press: US President Donald Trump, speaking during an official White House meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, again absolved the crown prince of responsibility in the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying “he had no knowledge of the incident.” Trump’s remarks came despite a 2021 U.S. intelligence assessment that concluded the crown prince had authorized the operation that led to the Washington Post columnist’s death.

Responding to a reporter’s question about the murder while standing alongside the crown prince, Trump called the question “shameful” and claimed Khashoggi had been “highly controversial.”

The U.S. president hosted the crown prince with full ceremonial honors, including an air-force flyover and a state dinner, and described Saudi Arabia as a “major non-NATO ally.”

Mohammed bin Salman, who arrived in Washington with a pledge of $1 trillion in investment, referred to the killing as “painful” and a “grave mistake.”

Saudi authorities maintain that “rogue agents” were responsible for Khashoggi’s death.