Trump Defends Saudi Crown Prince on Khashoggi During Washington Visit

President Donald Trump sharply rebuked a journalist in the Oval Office on Tuesday for raising the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit, declaring that the Saudi leader “knew nothing” about the killing and accusing the reporter of attempting to embarrass a valued guest on his first official trip to Washington since the incident.

The tense exchange occurred as the United States and Saudi Arabia formalized a series of landmark agreements, including the long-restricted sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Riyadh and a comprehensive civil nuclear energy cooperation framework projected to span decades and involve investments worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Trump described the Crown Prince as a “very good friend” who has made remarkable progress on human rights, while dismissing Khashoggi as an “extremely controversial” figure disliked by many.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman acknowledged the journalist’s murder as a “huge mistake” and “painful” episode but reiterated the official Saudi position that it was carried out by rogue operatives without his knowledge, a narrative that directly contradicts the 2021 U.S. intelligence assessment concluding that the Crown Prince had approved the operation. Trump swiftly moved to close the matter, stating there was no justification for revisiting the case during a visit focused on strengthening bilateral ties.

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The day’s events featured elaborate ceremonial displays, including an F-35 flyover and artillery salutes, followed by the signing of agreements on defense cooperation, artificial intelligence technology sharing with safeguards against foreign exploitation, and a reaffirmed Saudi commitment to invest up to one trillion dollars in the American economy over the coming years. Discussions also covered expansion of the Abraham Accords, with the Crown Prince expressing openness to normalization with Israel provided a credible pathway to Palestinian statehood is established.

The high-profile visit, capped by a gala dinner hosted by First Lady Melania Trump and attended by figures including Cristiano Ronaldo, underscored the administration’s determination to reset relations with Riyadh despite lingering international criticism over the Khashoggi assassination. President Trump separately rejected suggestions of conflict of interest regarding new Trump Organization ventures announced with Saudi partners, emphasizing that he has no involvement in his family’s business operations.

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