Trump’s Comments on Khashoggi
During a meeting at the White House on Tuesday, President Trump described the late Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi as a “controversial” figure while speaking with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The president addressed the 2018 murder of Khashoggi after being questioned about the appropriateness of the crown prince’s visit, given ongoing concerns regarding Saudi Arabia’s alleged ties to the killing and its connections to the September 11 attacks.
“You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about,” Trump stated. He added, “Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen, but [the crown prince] knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that. You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that.”
This marks the crown prince’s first visit to the White House since Khashoggi’s death and dismemberment at a Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
Formal investigations suggested that the murder was premeditated and implicated the crown prince. However, he has denied any personal involvement while maintaining his influence in Western relations due to Saudi Arabia’s significant role in Middle Eastern security and oil production.
Sitting alongside Trump in the Oval Office, the crown prince described the incident as “painful” and acknowledged it as a “huge mistake,” expressing his commitment to preventing similar occurrences in the future.
President Trump referred to the crown prince as an “extremely respected man” and commended him for his efforts regarding human rights. “I want to tell you what an honor it is to be your friend,” he remarked.
