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Trump clears Saudi crown prince of Khashoggi murder knowledge during White House talks
US President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "knew nothing" about the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, directly contradicting a 2021 US intelligence assessment that concluded the prince had approved the operation. The remarks came as Trump welcomed the Saudi leader to the White House for his first US visit since the killing, which strained bilateral relations.
Contradiction with intelligence findings
The crown prince, who has consistently denied involvement, described Khashoggi's death as "painful" and claimed Saudi Arabia had conducted a thorough investigation. His statements clash with the 2021 declassified report-released under President Joe Biden-which found that bin Salman had authorized a plan to "capture or kill" Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Trump dismissed questions about the murder, calling Khashoggi "extremely controversial" and asserting, "Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen." He later admonished reporters, saying, "You don't have to embarrass our guests."
Khashoggi's widow rejects Trump's claims
Hanan Elatr, Khashoggi's widow, rebutted Trump's defense in an interview with BBC Newsnight, citing the crown prince's own 2019 admission of responsibility in a 60 Minutes interview. "The crown prince himself... did take accountability for this horrible crime," she said. Elatr, who resides in the Washington DC area under US political asylum, also demanded a meeting with bin Salman, a formal apology, and compensation via a post on X.
Broad US-Saudi agreements on the agenda
The White House meeting focused on expanding bilateral cooperation, including a $1 trillion Saudi investment pledge in US sectors-up from $600 billion announced earlier this year-covering civilian nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and defense. Bin Salman praised the US as "the hottest country on the planet" and credited Trump for fostering "long-term opportunity."
F-35 fighter jet deal sparks regional concerns
Trump confirmed discussions on selling advanced F-35 aircraft to Riyadh, despite objections from Israeli officials who warn the move could undermine their "qualitative military edge" in the Middle East. "This is a great ally, and Israel is a great ally," Trump said, adding that both nations should receive "top of the line" equipment. The crown prince's visit continues with a gala dinner-attended by footballer Cristiano Ronaldo-and an investment summit on Wednesday.
Shift from Biden's Saudi policy
The visit marks a stark contrast to Biden's approach; the current president had previously vowed to treat Saudi Arabia as a "pariah" over its human rights record, though he later visited the kingdom in 2022 to address energy and security priorities. Trump's embrace of bin Salman signals a return to the closer ties of his first term, when his administration suppressed the intelligence report on Khashoggi's murder.
