President Donald Trump defended Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the prince’s first visit to the United States since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
When questioned about bin Salman’s alleged role in Khashoggi’s murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Trump dismissed concerns, saying, “Things happen,” and described Khashoggi as “extremely controversial.” He also insisted that bin Salman “knew nothing about it” and rebuked the media for pressing the issue.
This stance conflicts with a 2021 U.S. intelligence report concluding that the Crown Prince approved the operation to capture or kill Khashoggi. Bin Salman called the incident a “huge mistake” and expressed sorrow, noting Saudi Arabia had conducted thorough investigations and improved its systems to prevent such events.
Khashoggi’s widow, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, has publicly criticised the handling of her husband’s murder. She highlighted ongoing issues such as recovering his remains and seeking rightful compensation, likening her situation to those of 9/11 victims’ families. In a CNN interview, she described Trump welcoming bin Salman as “very painful.”
Despite controversy, the visit showed strengthened U.S.-Saudi ties, including agreements on arms sales, civil nuclear cooperation, and Saudi investments in U.S. technology sectors.