Overview
- In the Oval Office, Trump called Jamal Khashoggi “extremely controversial” and asserted the crown prince “didn’t know,” contradicting the CIA’s 2021 assessment.
- Trump told ABC’s Mary Bruce that ABC should lose its broadcast license and urged FCC review after she asked about Trump family business ties and Khashoggi; experts note the FCC licenses local stations and any such move would likely face legal challenges.
- The visit featured ceremonial honors and policy signals, with Trump citing plans to sell F-35 jets and pursue civil nuclear and defense deals as Saudi investment pledges in the U.S. were raised toward about $1 trillion.
- Mohammed bin Salman called the killing “painful” and defended the Saudi investigation, while Hanan Elatr Khashoggi demanded a personal apology and compensation.
- Trump said he would work on efforts regarding Sudan at the crown prince’s request and pushed for Saudi-Israel normalization, which the prince linked to a clear path to a two-state solution.