US President Donald Trump has downplayed the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, suggesting the issue was raised solely to embarrass Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during their meeting at the Oval Office. Trump described Khashoggi as “extremely controversial” and implied that his death was an unfortunate event that should not be dwelled upon, particularly in the presence of the visiting crown prince.
The US President also defended Prince Mohammed, despite a CIA assessment indicating that he likely ordered the killing. Trump stated that the crown prince had no knowledge of the incident and that it was unnecessary to bring up the topic. Prince Mohammed, in a separate statement, referred to Khashoggi’s death as a “painful” and “huge mistake,” acknowledging that it was a difficult incident for the Saudi people.
The crown prince’s visit to Washington marked his first since 2018, the same year Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey. A 2021 US intelligence report concluded that Prince Mohammed had approved the operation, citing his tight control over major decisions in the kingdom and previous efforts to silence dissidents abroad.
Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was a prominent critic of the Saudi government. His murder sparked widespread international condemnation and raised concerns about the kingdom’s human rights record. The incident has continued to strain relations between the US and Saudi Arabia, with many calling for greater accountability and transparency in the investigation.
Prince Mohammed has maintained that Saudi Arabia has taken the necessary steps to investigate the incident and prevent similar events from occurring in the future. However, the international community remains skeptical, and the case continues to be a source of tension between the US and Saudi Arabia. The visit has highlighted the complex and often contentious relationship between the two nations, with human rights and diplomatic relations likely to remain key points of discussion in the coming months.