President Donald Trump maintained that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had no knowledge of the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a stance that contradicts findings by U.S. intelligence agencies.
It was determined that Saudi agents operating in Istanbul followed bin Salman’s directive to kill and dismember an individual, who had been a critic of the Saudi royal family.
When questioned about these conclusions in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump minimized the journalist’s murder, stating that “things happen” and asserting that bin Salman “knew nothing about it.”
These remarks coincided with the commencement of an event, arranged by Trump, intended to highlight Saudi Arabia’s significance to the U.S., where the President anticipates unveiling hundreds of billions of dollars in Saudi investments. This marks bin Salman’s initial visit to the U.S. capital since Khashoggi’s death seven years prior.
Trump reprimanded the ABC News journalist who posed the query, labeling it an embarrassment to his guest. “Many individuals did not favor the gentleman you are referring to. Regardless of one’s opinion of him, incidents occur, but he was unaware of it,” Trump declared while seated beside Saudi Arabia’s de-facto ruler. “We can conclude the discussion there. There is no need to embarrass our guest with such a question.”
Nevertheless, the Crown Prince opted to reply. Without explicitly naming Khashoggi, bin Salman stated, “it is agonizing and a grave error—and we are striving to ensure this does not recur.”
Bin Salman also faced questions regarding the indignation from families of those affected by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, who opposed his presence. Numerous families have historically alleged that the Saudi government supported extremists connected to the hijackers, the majority of whom were Saudi citizens. The Crown Prince acknowledged his comprehension of the families’ suffering but asserted that “we must concentrate on reality.” He claimed Osama bin Laden orchestrated the attacks to fracture the bond between Saudi Arabia and the U.S., and that “robust relations” between both nations were crucial for combating extremism and terrorism.
Trump bestowed profuse commendation upon the Saudi Crown Prince, describing him as an “exceptionally respected man” and a “close associate.”
“His accomplishments are remarkable—regarding human rights and various other aspects,” Trump remarked.
The President emphasized this admiration through a lavish exhibition of cordiality. Upon bin Salman’s arrival at the White House’s South Portico—a considerably more majestic entry point than the West Wing driveway usually utilized by visiting heads of state—Trump organized a flyover by six F-15 fighter jets while a Marine brass band performed from the balcony. This elaborate demonstration underscored both Trump’s penchant for ceremonial events and his objective to highlight what he considers among his paramount international alliances.
Trump regards Saudi Arabia as crucial to his invigorated pursuit of international acclaim, encompassing his sustained effort for a Nobel Peace Prize. Throughout his initial term, Trump endeavored to integrate Saudi Arabia into an initiative that led to the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab countries. Riyadh, however, refrained from formally joining, even while progressing towards more discreet collaboration with Israel. That advancement has subsequently encountered strain due to recent developments.
Following his return to office, Trump has endeavored to ease tensions between Israel and Saudi Arabia and convinced Saudi leadership to support a proposal he put forth—a recommendation that was subsequently adopted in a United Nations Security Council resolution on Monday.
During a prior occasion, Saudi enterprises committed to injecting $600 billion into the U.S. economy. At Tuesday’s gathering, bin Salman declared this sum would escalate to $1 trillion. The Saudi administration aims to broaden its economic base beyond oil and foster collaborations with U.S. sectors in artificial intelligence and sophisticated technology. It is additionally advocating for Washington’s consent to establish a national nuclear energy initiative.
Subsequent to his meeting with Trump, bin Salman was slated to convene with members of the House and Senate before proceeding back to the White House for a formal dinner with Saudi and American business figures, hosted by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. This function, situated in the East Room, is designed to accommodate approximately 200 attendees. Trump observed that numerous others had to be declined, further mentioning that a new construction—currently being erected over the razed foundations of the East Wing—will possess significantly greater capacity.
“Tonight would be an ideal occasion for that ballroom to be accessible,” Trump remarked. Prior to concluding their discussion, he extended an invitation to the Crown Prince to revisit Washington before his term concludes, pledging, “We will arrange another dinner.”
