Overview
- During an Oval Office photo op, Trump berated ABC’s Mary Bruce, called the network “fake news,” labeled Jamal Khashoggi “extremely controversial,” and asserted the crown prince “didn’t know anything about it.”
- He urged federal regulators to consider revoking ABC’s broadcast authority, a threat that misstates FCC licensing, as networks do not hold a single national license and such a move would be legally unprecedented.
- Press-freedom groups and lawmakers, including Sen. Ed Markey, condemned Trump’s remarks as dangerous for journalists and warned they could embolden efforts to silence the press.
- The visit featured military pageantry, gala plans, discussion of F-35 sales, defense and civil nuclear cooperation, and a Saudi pledge to lift U.S. investments toward $1 trillion.
- Mohammed bin Salman called Khashoggi’s killing painful and defended the Saudi investigation, while the journalist’s widow rejected Trump’s characterization and called for an apology and compensation.