US President Donald Trump said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “knew nothing” about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi during the crown prince’s visit to the White House. Trump’s comments appeared to contradict a US intelligence report in 2021 that determined the crown prince had approved the operation that led to Khashoggi’s death in Istanbul.
At the White House, the crown prince said Saudi Arabia “did all the right steps” to investigate Khashoggi’s death, calling it “painful” and a “huge mistake”. Trump responded to reporters saying, “You don’t have to embarrass our guests,” and insisted bin Salman had no prior knowledge of the killing.
The 2021 intelligence report, made public under President Joe Biden, stated the crown prince approved a plan to capture or kill Khashoggi. While sanctions targeted dozens of Saudi officials, none were imposed directly on the crown prince. Khashoggi’s widow, Hanan, said Trump’s defence contradicted bin Salman’s earlier acknowledgment of responsibility in a 2019 interview and called for an apology and compensation.
The visit included talks on civilian nuclear power, artificial intelligence, and Saudi investment in the US, which was increased to $1 trillion from $600 billion. Trump and bin Salman discussed the potential sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets, raising concerns in Israel, though Trump said the aircraft model would be similar to those Israel operates.
The crown prince’s visit continues with a gala dinner and investment summit. Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays in the Saudi league, attended the dinner. President Biden did not host the crown prince, vowing to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” over its human rights record.
