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US President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the killing of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, while also praising the royal’s record on human rights. Speaking at the White House as he hosted the heir to the Saudi throne, Trump described Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and US resident, as “extremely controversial” and insisted the prince had no knowledge of the plot.
“A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman you’re referring to,” Trump said to reporters. “Whether you liked him or didn’t like him, things happened, but he knew nothing about it.”
Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018, after criticising the kingdom’s leadership.
The killing briefly triggered a diplomatic storm and drew criticism from Trump during his first term, though Saudi authorities later claimed it had been a rogue operation without high-level approval.
Prince Mohammed told reporters the episode was “painful” and a “huge mistake”, adding that efforts were being made to ensure such an incident was never repeated.
Trump rebuked the journalist who raised the question, urging them to “leave it at that” so as not to “embarrass our guest”.
Opening his remarks, the 79-year-old president praised Prince Mohammed as a “very good friend”, commending what he called the royal’s “incredible” work on human rights and other matters.
