Former US President Donald Trump stated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “knew nothing” about the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as he welcomed the Saudi royal to the White House.
Trump’s remarks appeared to contradict a 2021 US intelligence assessment that concluded the crown prince approved the operation that resulted in Khashoggi’s death at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
The crown prince, who has denied any involvement in the killing, asserted at the White House that Saudi Arabia “did all the right things” in its investigation into Khashoggi’s death.
This marked his first visit to the US since the assassination, an event that strained US-Saudi relations.
During a meeting in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump responded sharply to a reporter’s question about the killing.
“You’re mentioning someone that was extremely controversial,” the former president said.
“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.”
“But he [the Crown Prince] knew nothing about it,” Trump added. “You don’t have to embarrass our guests.”
The crown prince reiterated that Saudi Arabia “did all the right steps” to investigate the murder, describing it as “painful” and a “huge mistake.”
The US intelligence report released in 2021, under President Joe Biden’s administration, stated that the crown prince approved a plan to “capture or kill” Khashoggi in Istanbul. Officials in the Trump White House previously declined to release the report.
While numerous Saudi officials faced sanctions following the assassination, none directly targeted the crown prince.
Saudi Arabia previously dismissed the report as “negative, false and unacceptable.”
On Tuesday, Khashoggi’s widow called on the crown prince to apologize for her husband’s murder, stating that there was “no justification” for the act.
“The Crown Prince said he was sorry so he should meet me, apologize and compensate me for the murder of my husband @JKhashoggi,” Hanan Elatr Khashoggi posted on X. She has been granted political asylum in the US and resides in the Washington DC area.
The meeting between Trump and Mohammed bin Salman was anticipated to involve discussions about civilian nuclear power, artificial intelligence, and Saudi investment in the US. The crown prince announced that Saudi investment would increase to $1 trillion, up from $600 billion pledged earlier in the year.
Echoing Trump’s sentiments, bin Salman hailed the US as the “hottest country on the planet” and commended Trump for fostering “long-term opportunity.”
The potential sale of advanced F-35 fighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia was also addressed.
Trump indicated that while export licenses were still being announced, he anticipated an agreement between the Saudis and US defense contractor Lockheed Martin.
The potential sale has raised concerns among some Israeli officials, who fear it could compromise the country’s “qualitative military edge” in the Middle East, where Israel is the only nation currently operating F-35s.
Trump clarified that the model sold to the Saudis would be broadly similar to the one used by the Israelis.
“This [Saudi Arabia] is a great ally, and Israel is a great ally,” Trump said. “I know they’d like you to get planes of reduced calibre.”
“But as far as I’m concerned, I think they are both at a level where they should get top of the line,” he added.
The crown prince’s visit to Washington includes a gala dinner on Tuesday night, followed by an investment summit on Wednesday.
Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays in the Saudi professional league, was also expected to be at the White House on Tuesday, a White House official confirmed to the BBC.
President Biden did not host the crown prince and vowed to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” over its human rights record. In 2022, however, Biden visited the kingdom to reach agreement on other issues.
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