Trump Sides With Saudi Crown Prince, Downplays US Intelligence on Khashoggi Case

Washington: US President Donald Trump fiercely defended Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in a press conference held at the White House. This comes as US intelligence reports related to the 2018 murder of critical speaker Jamal Khashoggi identified the Crown Prince as having ‘ordered the murder.’

Why did Trump answer the journalist's question like this?

An ABC News reporter asked Trump, “Why should we trust the Crown Prince after the findings of US intelligence agencies?” Trump quickly interjected, "You are fake news," and then added, "This guy (the Crown Prince) was completely innocent. Some people were not popular... but we don't need to go any further on this." He clearly said that the guest should not be embarrassed.

How did the Crown Prince see this whole question?

MBS said that this incident saddens him greatly. He acknowledged that for those who lost their lives, it was very tragic and "a mistake was made." He said that Saudi Arabia has improved its system so that such incidents do not happen again.

What picture did Trump present of Saudi Arabia on human rights?

Trump praised the Crown Prince's human rights reforms, although he did not provide any concrete examples. He said the two leaders had become “good friends” and the prince had done a “wonderful job”.

Why did Biden distance himself from Saudi Arabia earlier?

Joe Biden called Saudi Arabia a “pariah state” in the 2020 campaign, and he maintained a distance from MBS after becoming president. But the Russia-Ukraine war sent oil prices soaring, and the global crisis deepened. For this reason, Biden had to go to Jeddah and meet with Saudi Arabia in 2022 so that oil production can be increased.

How was the reception for the Crown Prince at the White House?

MBS received a huge ceremonial welcome when he arrived at the White House on Tuesday morning—military flyover, Marine band, and guard of honor. It was not a ‘state visit’ in the formal sense—but it was a major event in the American perception of the Saudi leadership. Also, he announced that Saudi Arabia will now invest $1 trillion in the US, much more than the $600 billion previously announced.

What did the American intelligence report say?

In 2021, US intelligence agencies released a declassified report stating that Kashoggi's murder occurred with the approval of the Crown Prince. It was also reported that security and intelligence officers were playing an active role in this massacre. The US then enacted the “Khashoggi Policy,” which imposed visa restrictions on representatives of foreign governments who targeted journalists or dissidents.

So is Trump ignoring all these reports?

Trump made it clear that he stands fully behind the crown prince—even if it contradicts the findings of US intelligence agencies. He made the statement that a Kashoggi-like incident was “a thing that could happen.” This shows that Trump is not averse to supporting the Saudi leadership, no matter how sensitive the matter is.