US President Donald Trump has asserted that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman 'knew nothing' about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi during his recent welcome of the crown prince to the White House. This statement contradicts a 2021 US intelligence report that claimed the crown prince approved the operation that led to Khashoggi's death at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
The crown prince has denied any wrongdoing and maintained that Saudi Arabia 'did all the right things' to investigate Khashoggi's murder, which remains a critical issue in US-Saudi relations.
In the Oval Office, when pressed by a reporter about Khashoggi's death, Trump stated, 'You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial,' implying that opinions about Khashoggi were divided. He added, 'But he [the Crown Prince] knew nothing about it. You don’t have to embarrass our guests.'
Khashoggi's widow, while in Washington, echoed the need for accountability, urging the crown prince to apologize and compensate for her husband's murder.
Trump and bin Salman also discussed potential arms deals, including the sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets, which has raised concerns among Israeli officials about maintaining their military advantage in the region.
This visit marks the crown prince's first trip to the US since Khashoggi's assassination, illustrating the ongoing complexities of international diplomacy and the human rights implications surrounding the Saudi regime.
