During a meeting at the White House, former President Donald Trump was asked about the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The question came while he was sitting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This was the prince’s first visit to the United States since the killing.
Khashoggi was a well known writer who often criticized the Saudi government. He was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. A group of Saudi agents attacked him and strangled him. His body was cut apart and has never been found. In 2021 the CIA said the crown prince had approved the plan to capture or kill him.
When a reporter asked Trump about the murder, he got irritated. Reports say he replied that many people did not like Khashoggi. He also said things happen and claimed the crown prince knew nothing about the killing. Trump even called Khashoggi a terrible person and told the reporter she should not embarrass their guest.
The crown prince also spoke about the case. He said the killing was painful for Saudi Arabia. He said the country investigated it properly and fixed its systems to stop anything like this from happening again. He called the killing a big mistake but continued to deny that he ordered it.
Most of the meeting focused on business. Trump said Saudi Arabia would invest up to one trillion dollars in the United States. He also confirmed that America would sell F thirty five fighter jets to Saudi Arabia and name the country a major non NATO ally. Later that night a large dinner was held at the White House. More than one hundred forty important guests attended, including Elon Musk.
Khashoggi’s widow reacted online after hearing Trump’s comments. She said there was no excuse for her husband’s murder. She said her husband was brave and honest even if some people disagreed with him. She also said that since the crown prince expressed regret he should meet her, apologize to her, and compensate her for the killing.
The CIA report released by the Biden administration in 2021 said the crown prince approved the assassination. It pointed to his tight control over Saudi decisions and the involvement of his own security team. Many critics often question America’s close relationship with Saudi Arabia because of its human rights record. But under Trump the ties between the two countries became much stronger. The prince’s visit included a red carpet welcome with a military guard of honor and fighter jets flying overhead.
Human rights groups and families of nine eleven victims criticized the meeting and the way Trump defended the crown prince.