Overview
- During a White House session with Mohammed bin Salman, the president dismissed U.S. intelligence linking the crown prince to Jamal Khashoggi’s 2018 killing and said the prince “knew nothing about it.”
- He described Khashoggi as “extremely controversial,” added “things happen,” and admonished a reporter, saying there was no need to “embarrass our guest” with the question.
- The Washington Post editorial board condemned the remarks as “beneath the office of the president,” calling them “weak, crass and of no strategic benefit to America.”
- The editorial said the comments “stand at odds with the facts” and warned that legitimizing the crown prince could embolden abuses against journalists and Americans.
- News coverage noted this was among the president’s strongest public defenses of the crown prince and highlighted his repeated reliance on Saudi denials and economic arguments since 2018.