President Trump Defends Saudi Crown Prince Amid Khashoggi Discussions
On Tuesday, during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the White House, US President Donald Trump stated that the Crown Prince 'knew nothing' about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. This visit marked the Crown Prince's first to the United States since Khashoggi's death, an event that impacted US-Saudi relations.
Statements on Khashoggi Killing
In the Oval Office, President Trump addressed a reporter's question regarding Khashoggi, referring to him as 'extremely controversial' and stating, '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 reiterated, 'But he [the Crown Prince] knew nothing about it,' adding, 'You don't have to embarrass our guests.'
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, affirmed that Saudi Arabia 'did all the right things' and 'all the right steps' to investigate Khashoggi's death, describing it as 'painful' and a 'huge mistake'.
Contradictory Intelligence Assessment
President Trump's statements contrasted with a US intelligence assessment made public in 2021 under President Joe Biden's administration. This report determined that the Crown Prince had approved an operation to 'capture or kill' Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. During his first term, the Trump White House had declined to release this specific report.
Following the killing, dozens of Saudi officials faced sanctions, though none directly targeted the Crown Prince. Saudi Arabia rejected the 2021 report, labeling it 'negative, false and unacceptable'.
Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, Jamal Khashoggi's widow, subsequently called for the Crown Prince to apologize and provide compensation for her husband's murder, stating there was 'no justification' for the act. She posted on X, 'The Crown Prince said he was sorry so he should meet me, apologize and compensate me for the murder of my husband @JKhashoggi.'
Bilateral Discussions and Agreements
The meeting between President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also covered various bilateral initiatives, including:
- Economic Cooperation: Discussions on civilian nuclear power and artificial intelligence. The Crown Prince announced an increase in Saudi investment in the US, rising from an earlier pledge of $600 billion to $1 trillion.
- Defense Sales: A potential sale of advanced F-35 fighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia was discussed. President Trump indicated expectations for a deal between Saudi Arabia and US defense contractor Lockheed Martin, pending export license announcements.
The proposed F-35 sale has raised concerns among some Israeli officials. They have expressed that such a sale could potentially diminish Israel's 'qualitative military edge' in the Middle East, where it is currently the sole operator of F-35s. President Trump acknowledged both Saudi Arabia and Israel as 'great allies' and stated, '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.'
Visit Continuation and Previous Administrations' Stance
The Crown Prince's visit was scheduled to continue with a gala dinner on Tuesday night and an investment summit on Wednesday.
In contrast to President Trump's approach, President Joe Biden did not host the Crown Prince during his term and had initially vowed to treat Saudi Arabia as a 'pariah' due to its human rights record. However, President Biden did visit the kingdom in 2022 to address other issues.