President Donald Trump offered a robust defense of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a high-profile White House meeting, directly contradicting US intelligence findings about the prince's involvement in journalist Jamal Khashoggi's 2018 killing.
Controversial Defense Amid Lavish Welcome
The Saudi crown prince received an elaborate welcome ceremony on Tuesday that included military honors, cannon salutes, and flyovers by US warplanes. This marked his first visit to the White House in over seven years, signaling a significant warming of US-Saudi relations under Trump's second term.
During their Oval Office meeting, Trump insisted that Mohammed bin Salman had no knowledge of the operation that led to Khashoggi's death at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. "A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about, whether you like him or didn't like him," Trump told reporters. "Things happened, but he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that."
This position directly conflicts with the assessment of US intelligence agencies, which had concluded that bin Salman approved the capture or killing of the Washington Post journalist.
Saudi Prince's Response and Reforms
For his part, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman described Khashoggi's death as "painful" and acknowledged it as a "huge mistake." He stated that Saudi Arabia has "improved our system to be sure that nothing happened like that" again.
The visit highlighted the complex nature of the crown prince's leadership. While human rights groups continue to criticize his crackdown on dissent, he has also introduced sweeping social reforms under his Vision 2030 plan, aimed at diversifying Saudi Arabia's oil-dependent economy.
Massive Investment Pledges and Defense Deals
The meeting produced significant economic and security announcements that underscored the deepening ties between the two nations. Bin Salman pledged to increase Saudi investment in the US to $1 trillion, substantially raising the previous $600 billion commitment made in May. However, analysts noted the ambitious nature of this pledge given Saudi Arabia's substantial domestic spending on projects like futuristic megacities and World Cup 2034 preparations.
Trump also announced that the two countries had reached a defense agreement, confirming that Riyadh would purchase 48 advanced F-35 fighter jets. This landmark deal represents the first sale of stealth aircraft to Saudi Arabia and could potentially alter military dynamics in the Middle East.
Reactions and Ongoing Controversy
The president's defense of the Saudi leader drew sharp criticism from Khashoggi's widow, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi. In a social media post, she stated: "There is no justification to murder my husband. While Jamal was a good transparent and brave man many people may not have agreed with his opinions and desire for freedom of the press." She urged the crown prince to meet with her directly.
Trump also addressed questions about potential conflicts of interest regarding his family's business ties with Saudi Arabia, asserting that he has "nothing to do with the family business" and has devoted "100% of my energy" to presidential duties.
The discussions also touched on the possibility of a civilian nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, though progress has been slow due to Washington's insistence that Riyadh rule out uranium enrichment or reprocessing spent fuel—measures that could be used to develop nuclear weapons.
The crown prince is scheduled to promote his Vision 2030 reforms at a conference at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he will address leading corporate executives about Saudi Arabia's investment ambitions.
