President Donald Trump came to the defense of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who has been accused of orchestrating the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump downplayed the accusations, stating that Khashoggi was a controversial figure and suggesting that Salman had no knowledge of the killing. The incident took place when Khashoggi visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018 and was later found dismembered. Despite international condemnation, Trump has maintained a favorable view of Saudi Arabia and its leadership.
During a White House event welcoming the Crown Prince, Trump faced questions from ABC News about the murder, which he promptly dismissed as “fake news.” Responding to concerns from 9/11 families about Salman’s warm reception, the Crown Prince expressed regret for the families’ pain and attributed the attack to Osama Bin Laden’s attempt to harm US-Saudi relations.
Salman acknowledged Khashoggi’s murder as a significant error and emphasized Saudi Arabia’s efforts to prevent such tragedies in the future. The Mirror has launched a US Politics WhatsApp community to provide real-time updates to subscribers, offering a platform for exclusive news and promotions. To join, users can access the link provided and select ‘Join Chat.’ Additionally, the community will receive special offers from the Mirror and its partners.