Donald Trump has come to the defense of the Saudi leader accused of orchestrating the brutal murder of a US-based journalist. During a press event, Trump rebuked a reporter for bringing up the sensitive topic, stating that it was embarrassing to his guest. The Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, was implicated by US intelligence in the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the Saudi regime. Trump downplayed the incident, calling Khashoggi controversial and implying that his death was not significant. He asserted that Salman was unaware of the murder, dismissing it as just something that happens.
Khashoggi disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018, to collect marriage documents. Evidence later revealed that he was murdered and dismembered inside the consulate. The United Nations held the Saudi government accountable for the premeditated killing of Khashoggi. Despite global condemnation, Trump has consistently shown admiration for Saudi Arabia and its leadership.
During a formal meeting at the Oval Office, Trump faced questions about the murder from ABC News. Reacting swiftly, he criticized the reporter, labeling the inquiry as “fake news.” Trump emphasized that Khashoggi’s controversial nature justified the lack of attention to his death, implying that it was inconsequential. Salman, addressing concerns from 9/11 families over his warm welcome at the White House, expressed regret for the families’ pain. He attributed the 9/11 attacks to Osama Bin Laden’s exploitation of Saudi individuals to strain US-Saudi relations.
Salman acknowledged Khashoggi’s murder as a grave error and vowed to prevent such incidents in the future. He expressed sorrow over the loss of life and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts in investigating the case thoroughly. The Mirror has initiated a US Politics WhatsApp community to provide real-time updates and exclusive news coverage. Interested individuals can join the community by following a provided link and opting to receive notifications directly on their phones. Special offers and promotions will be extended to community members, who can exit the group at any time.