US President Donald Trump firmly defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, claiming the leader “knew nothing” about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi a stance that directly clashes with the US intelligence conclusion. The remarks came during bin Salman’s first White House visit in over seven years.
Trump also announced the designation of Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, alongside new agreements covering arms sales, civil nuclear cooperation, artificial intelligence, and critical mineral partnerships marking a major strengthening of US-Saudi ties.
The Khashoggi controversy resurfaced during the Oval Office meeting when a reporter questioned Trump about the killing of the Washington Post columnist. Khashoggi, a well-known critic of the Saudi leadership, was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, a killing that US intelligence agencies say was approved by the crown prince.
With bin Salman seated beside him, Trump dismissed those findings, saying, “Things happened, but he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that.” He also scolded the reporter for raising the issue, suggesting it was meant “to embarrass our guest.”
Bin Salman expressed sorrow over the killing, calling it “painful” and a “huge mistake,” adding that Saudi Arabia took “all the right steps” in the investigation and reformed its systems to prevent such incidents in the future.
Human rights concerns, however, continue to surround the crown prince. Despite his introduction of sweeping social reforms in Saudi Arabia, critics including human rights groups accuse him of harsh crackdowns on dissent.
The defensiveness drew an emotional response from Khashoggi’s widow, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, who said no political justification can excuse the murder. She urged Trump to meet her so she could introduce him to “the real Jamal.”
The visit and Trump’s remarks highlight a renewed partnership between Washington and Riyadh while reopening a painful chapter for many still seeking justice for Khashoggi.
