US President Donald Trump has stated that Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, “knew nothing” about the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump made the remarks during a meeting with the crown prince in the Oval Office. His statement contradicts a 2021 US intelligence report that concluded the crown prince had a role in the journalist’s killing.
During the meeting, Trump also claimed that “a lot of people didn’t like” Khashoggi, while the crown prince described the killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul as a “huge mistake.” The exchange has drawn criticism, with Khashoggi’s widow insisting the crown prince should personally meet her, apologize, and provide compensation for her husband’s murder.
Beyond the controversy, the two leaders discussed enhancing economic ties between the US and Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged that Saudi Arabia would invest $1 trillion in the United States, signaling a major boost to bilateral trade and investment relations. Analysts note that the meeting reflects Trump’s continued close ties with Saudi leadership despite longstanding human rights concerns.
